“My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of the ten South Bronx residents who were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease and the one person who tragically died. I am deeply concerned that there is another outbreak in The Bronx with preliminary detection of Legionella bacteria in 10 cooling towers across the affected neighborhoods.
I am closely monitoring the City’s investigation and response as we await test results to determine whether live bacteria were present and if these towers are connected to the current outbreak. Every property owner must be held accountable for complying with New York City’s cooling tower testing and maintenance requirements to prevent the spread of Legionella. Cooling towers that require remediation must be cleaned and disinfected without delay. The fact that two of the towers identified by the City Health Department did not provide required testing information warrants immediate scrutiny. Recent outbreaks across New York City underscore the importance of proactive public health action by responsible parties.
If you live or work in zip codes 10451 and 10456, please take note that Legionnaires' disease symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, and cough. People may also have headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, confusion, or diarrhea. If you have these symptoms, seek medical attention. It is especially important for people at increased risk for Legionnaires' disease to seek care right away. Contact your healthcare provider if you are worried about Legionnaires’ disease.
For up-to-date information, please visit the following webpage: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/
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