New York City officials say five more buildings in the South Bronx have tested positive for the bacteria that cause the potentially deadly Legionnaires’ disease, though there is no sign that anyone has grown ill from the new sites. However, in a speech made Saturday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the outbreak “has been contained”, despite his acknowledgement that this outbreak was unprecedented in its nature. “This is literally uncharted territory and it’s important we recognize that we’ve never seen an outbreak of Legionnaires’ like this in the history of New York City“. “My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected by this disease, and I wish them a speedy recovery”, said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
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This testing support also helps building owners and operators comply with the recent order from New York City that towers with the potential to become sources of Legionella bacteria be tested before mid-August. We took charge on day one, we took matters into our own hands, and that’s why the situation is changing…
It’s not uncommon for the city to report cases of Legionnaires’ Disease but the cases usually aren’t clustered in one location as they are in this latest outbreak.
New York City Health Officials have confirmed another case of Legionnaires’ disease, making the total number of cases 109, however they say the person did not recently contract the illness.
De Blasio dismissed the criticism some have levied at his administration for being slow to initially react to the outbreak, and said the city was compiling a list of cooling towers citywide so it could respond more quickly to any future outbreak.
Finding a state law pertaining to the testing of water systems for the disease is hard.
Since its appearance late last month in the South Bronx, 100 people have been diagnosed with the disease, a form of pneumonia caused by breathing in mist contaminated with the Legionella bacteria.
Before the Dominican Day parade Sunday in Manhattan, Cuomo said of Bronx residents, “I’m going to make sure their government is there for them”.
“I want to make sure we have a statewide system, statewide protocols”, the governor said.
The city’s Health Department on Thursday ordered that within the next 14 days, all buildings with cooling towers be tested and any found contaminated will be disinfected.
State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said, “New York City Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett has asked the state to assist in testing additional buildings for Legionella in the Bronx”.
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“I want New Yorkers to know that we are actively working to protect the public health”, Governor Cuomo said.
