Legionnaires’ disease outbreak kills one and infects others in the South Bronx

People can become infected by breathing in contaminated water droplets or mist. New York City health officials say it’s safe to use air conditioners, drink tap water and shower unless otherwise advised. Photograph: Francis Chandler/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/AP

One person has died from legionnaires’ disease, and four more have been sickened in New York City amid a new cluster of cases only weeks after local health officials had declared a separate deadly Manhattan outbreak of the illness over.

On Thursday, New York City officials announced that their municipal health department launched an investigation into a community cluster in parts of Melrose and Morrisania in the South Bronx, including ZIP codes 10451 and 10456.