DOH Issues Advisory Regarding Legionellosis Surveillance and Reporting Requirements
(July 1, 2025) On July 1st, the Department of Health (DOH) issued an advisory for clinicians regarding legionellosis surveillance and reporting requirements.
Per the advisory:
- New York State (NYS) has a high burden of legionellosis, with increased incidence during the summer and early fall.
- Clinicians should remain alert for possible cases of legionellosis at this time of year and conduct appropriate diagnostic testing.
- Legionnaires’ disease cannot be clinically distinguished from other causes of pneumonia.
- Test for Legionella by respiratory culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and urine antigen, especially if testing for other respiratory infections has been negative; refer to the diagnostic testing table [in the advisory] for additional information.
- Confirmed Legionella isolates from any clinical specimen should be submitted to the NYS Department of Health (DOH) Wadsworth Center Laboratories or the New York City (NYC) Public Health Laboratory (PHL) for serogrouping and whole genome sequencing (WGS).
- Report legionellosis cases promptly to the local health department (LHD) where the patient resides.
- Cases in NYC residents should be reported to the NYC Health Department by calling the Provider Access Line at 866.692.3641.
- If you are unable to reach the LHD for cases outside of NYC, contact the NYS Department of Health Bureau of Communicable Disease Control (BCDC) at 518.473.4439 or by email at epiLegionella@health.ny.gov during business hours or 866.881.2809 during evenings, weekends, and holidays.
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Legionellosis is a bacterial disease caused by Legionella species. There are multiple types of legionellosis:
- Legionnaires’ disease: characterized by illness with pneumonia diagnosed radiographically or clinically
- Pontiac fever: a milder, self-limiting illness without pneumonia
- Extrapulmonary legionellosis: rare; characterized by extrapulmonary infection
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Questions regarding clinical or epidemiological information should be directed to your LHD or the NYS Department of Health BCDC at 518.473.4439 or epiLegionella@health.ny.gov. For questions pertaining to NYC residents, call the NYC Health Department Provider Access Line at 866.692.3641.
Contact: Amy Nelson, anelson@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383 ext. 146