Key Takeaway:
- NYC expanded Legionnaires’ disease outreach to ZIP codes 10455 and 10459 after nearby cases emerged.
- The South Bronx cluster has 19 cases and two deaths, with four patients still hospitalized.
- Officials are testing and disinfecting cooling towers and urging residents with symptoms to seek medical care.
New York City health officials have expanded Legionnaires’ disease outreach to two South Bronx ZIP codes after identifying nearby cases, as testing and disinfection continue amid a cluster linked to 19 cases and two deaths.
Health Officials Expand Outreach Area
The New York City Health Department is extending community outreach to ZIP codes 10455 and 10459 after cases were identified within a few blocks of the original investigation area in Melrose and Morrisania, ZIP codes 10451 and 10456.
As of the latest city update, 19 people have tested positive in connection with the cluster. Eleven have been discharged from hospitals, four remain hospitalized, two did not require hospitalization, and two have died.
The department began investigating the cluster on Sept. 10. Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin said officials were acting quickly to identify additional cases and potential sources.
“We are taking immediate action,” Martin said, adding that water ecologists had sampled cooling towers in the affected area.
Cooling Towers Remain Under Investigation
Health officials are testing cooling towers as part of the NYC Legionnaires’ Disease investigation because the systems can release water mist containing Legionella bacteria. Ten towers in the original investigation area had preliminary PCR tests detecting Legionella, and officials ordered those systems cleaned and disinfected.
Martin said at a Sept. 15 community meeting that all 24 cooling towers of concern had been sampled and that towers with positive initial results had been cleaned and disinfected. “All of them have been sampled,” Martin said.
The city is also conducting culture testing, which can determine whether live Legionella bacteria were present when samples were collected. Officials have cautioned that a positive PCR result alone does not establish that a cooling tower caused an illness.
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by inhaling mist containing Legionella bacteria. The disease is not contagious, and city officials say tap water remains safe for drinking, cooking and bathing. Home air conditioners also do not pose an additional risk.
Residents Urged To Watch For Symptoms
People who live, work or have visited ZIP codes 10451, 10455, 10456 or 10459 since late August are being urged to watch for symptoms of NYC Legionnaires’ Disease, including fever, chills, cough, muscle aches or difficulty breathing. Early diagnosis is important because the disease can be treated with antibiotics.
Residents can call 311 or 844-NYC-4NYC for help finding medical care, regardless of insurance or immigration status, according to the Health Department.
The department is scheduled to hold a virtual town hall at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, for residents across the four affected ZIP codes. Officials are expected to discuss the investigation and answer questions from the community.
The investigation into NYC Legionnaires’ disease remains ongoing as health officials continue environmental testing and monitor new cases.
