New York City health officials first learned of a cluster of Legionnaires’ Disease cases in Washington Heights in early July. Since then, eight confirmed cases have more than doubled with the current total inching toward two dozen. The outbreak has already proven fatal with one death, and several confirmed cases still hospitalized. Health Officials have indicated that the “Lower Washington Heights” outbreak stems from an infected cooling tower. The health department has conducted testing on over 20 cooling towers and have affirmed that drinking water is safe despite the rise in cases. Early reports show that affected individuals are between…
An unidentified East Harlem police officer has been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ Disease. This diagnosis prompted NYC Department of Health officials to investigate the source of this illness. Following an investigation, Department of Health officials stated that Legionella, the Legionnaires’ Disease causing bacteria, was found in the workplace of the officer. This comes after an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease killed 12 people and sickened 128 others in the South Bronx section of New York City in the Summer of 2015. For more information about the Legionnaires’ Disease case involving the police click here to red a New York Times article. If you…
Two individuals at the Rangel Houses in Harlem have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. Regarding these two cases, the NYC Department of Health released a statement indicating that they are working with the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) to launch an investigation and test the water supply in one of the buildings within the public housing complex. The results of these tests will not be determined for a few weeks, and until then it is unclear whether or not the suspected building is the source of the Legionella bacteria that is responsible for these two cases. In an effort to…