Dozens of New York cooling towers test positive for Legionnaires’ bacteria as outbreak reaches 60 cases
New York City is handling a community cluster of cases of Legionnaires’ disease on the Upper East Side that authorities believe is linked to bacteria found in cooling towers. Towers in 76 buildings on the Upper East Side tested positive for bacteria, the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Tuesday.
caused by pneumonia Legionella bacteria It has been confirmed in 60 people this month, but no deaths have been reported.
Currently, 15 people are hospitalized and 34 people have been discharged. Overall, 1 in 10 people who contract Legionnaires’ disease will die. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cooling towers used in cooling and general building cooling, remove building heat It draws the outside air through warm water coming from a central cooler sprayed on the filling material and releases it to the atmosphere. As the fans draw air from the water, a small amount evaporates, cooling the remaining water, which is then recirculated to pick up more heat. When people are exposed to the steam coming out of these systems, they can get sick if it contains bacteria. Research shows Cooling towers and other warm, wet environments, such as hot tubs, spas, and some plumbing systems, are particularly vulnerable to Legionella bacteria.
There are hundreds of cases of Legionnaires’ in New York each year, but officials have noticed an increase in cases clustered in three ZIP codes: 10128, 10028 and 10075. Anyone who has been in the area in the past few weeks is advised to be alert for symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, confusion and diarrhea.
Most people exposed to Legionella bacteria never get sick, but vulnerable groups may include people who are over 50, vape or smoke, have a weakened immune system, or have underlying health problems such as diabetes or lung disease. The New York health department said there is no vaccine or drug to prevent this and masks do not provide protection. Treatment includes antibiotics and sometimes oxygen therapy or intensive care.
The department tested 183 cooling towers identified as potential sources of bacteria in the affected zip codes and directed owners of 76 buildings to evacuate, clean and disinfect those towers.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene commissioner Dr. Alistair Martin said on Tuesday that 57 building owners had confirmed they had completed the required remediation. The remaining 19 must do so by Thursday.
“We know 76 buildings is a significant number, but we also knew this list would be long. The Upper East Side has a high concentration of cooling towers, and our initial screening tests cast a wide net,” Martin said at a news conference Tuesday. “These results are also indicative of how widespread Legionella is in our built structures. environment and that’s why we stay vigilant.”
Public health officials noted that this particular cluster of cases was not linked to drinking water, showers or air conditioners.
Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious and can be controlled if people are given antibiotics early in the course of the disease.
The rate of cases appears to be slowing, but more disease may still emerge. Because the incubation period is 2 to 14 days, people may not yet know if they are sick.
The city says it will conduct additional testing to try to determine exactly where the outbreak started and distinguish between live and dead bacteria, but the initial tests were unable to do so. These tests may take several weeks.
“We have not and will not wait for confirmatory tests, which may require weeks of bacterial culture. We don’t have weeks,” Martin said at a town hall meeting on Monday. “We thought this aggressive stance and not waiting for the bacterial culture result was incredibly important to get these potentially troubling bacteria off the map.”
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