On July 30, 2015, The New York Times reported that the New York City Department of Public Health was investigating an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease in the South Bronx. At that time, 31 cases with 2 deaths had been reported since July 10. The number of cases continued to increase, and by August 10, a total of 113 cases were reported. Of these, 76 had been treated and discharged from care, and 12 patients, all with comorbidities, had died.
Legionella was detected in five of 17 cooling towers tested in the affected areas, including towers at the Opera House Hotel and the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center.1 Each of the five cooling towers was disinfected, with plans for continued monitoring for the presence of the organism. On August 6, New York City buildings with cooling towers were ordered to have their units assessed by an environmental consultant and disinfected within two weeks.
At the time of this writing, the outbreak appears to be burning out, with no newly diagnosed cases in the interval between August 3 and August 10, and no new deaths since August 4.
REFERENCE
- Yee V. Officials seek source of Legionnaires’ outbreak in the Bronx. The New York Times. Aug. 2, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/03/nyregion/officials-seek-source-of-legionnaires-outbreak-in-the-bronx.html.
On July 30, 2015, The New York Times reported that the New York City Department of Public Health was investigating an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease in the South Bronx.
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