The infectious bacterial disease, which killed six people in two separate outbreaks in 2013 in Ohio, has claimed 10 lives and infected at least 100 people in New York City in the past month.
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“We are starting a massive testing effort in that immediate vicinity where we will actually have a coordinated testing program where we will send people out to test these cooling towers to determine if there is a source of bacteria or not”, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The New York City health department on Thursday had ode red that within a per sod of 14 days all possible buildings and cooling towers will be tested for the bacteria and if any found, it will be immediately decontaminated.
A worker from Rockland County has been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. Everyone understands that the outbreak has been limited to one community in our city. There have been 2,400 cases nationwide this year. However, between 5 to 30 percent of people die.
The towers are typically located on large modern, or modernized buildings.
Legionnaire’s disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by inhaling mist that are Legionella bacteria contaminated.
Building owners would be required to register the locations of cooling towers with the city.
When asked to weigh in on de Blasio’s response to the outbreak, Cuomo demurred, saying only that the “situation became critical” and warranted state assistance.
In addition to analyzing the increasing number of cases of the disease, researchers at Emory University reviewed national care standards, preparedness for handling and outbreaks, and guidance for preventing them, finding them significantly lacking in many ways.
New Yorkers with respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, chills and muscle aches, are advised to promptly seek medical attention. An outbreak of the disease in Philadelphia in 1976, largely among people attending a convention of the American Legion, led to its name.
Rouse had been hospitalized at Beth Israel Hospital and died there, even though doctors were sure he’d recover-his family members say the Health Department did not look into his death, even though they repeatedly asked officials to do so. It is considered particularly more risky for individuals that have underlying health issues and the elderly.
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Later in the press conference, NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett said that this was the worst outbreak of Legionnaires’ in the city’s history.
