NY to deploy teams to help Legionnaires' outbreak testing

(AP) -- State health teams will deploy to the Bronx to help collect and test samples from cooling towers amid a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires' disease as the number of those sickened grew by one to

News 12 Staff

Aug 8, 2015, 12:58 AM

Updated 3,176 days ago

Share:

NY to deploy teams to help Legionnaires' outbreak testing
(AP) -- State health teams will deploy to the Bronx to help collect and test samples from cooling towers amid a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires' disease as the number of those sickened grew by one to 101, officials said Friday.
Teams will begin work Saturday, and state officials have said they'll pay for the testing. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio earlier this week ordered that within the next 14 days, all buildings with cooling towers that haven't been tested in the last 30 days be tested and any towers found contaminated be disinfected. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor. The bacteria were found in five buildings within a few blocks of one another in the South Bronx, but there is no indication that Legionella has contaminated water systems in buildings.
"A situation like this requires a great deal of detective work. Clearly this is a sleuth mission to find out where this is happening," said State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker.
So far, 10 people have died since the outbreak surfaced last month, making it the deadliest outbreak in the city's history, heath officials said. The victims were adults with underlying medical conditions. The disease is a form of pneumonia caused by breathing in mist contaminated with the Legionella bacteria.
City Health Commissioner Mary Bassett said officials have a good handle on the outbreak, and the frequency of diagnoses is decreasing.
"We have fewer new cases. People are seeking care promptly and getting treatment promptly. We're optimistic that we've seen the worst of this outbreak, and that our remediation efforts are having an impact," she said in a statement.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo had asked representatives from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to come help, and he ordered a long-term review on how the outbreak is being handled.
Dr. Claressa Lucas of the CDC defended the city's response.
"The timing of it (the response) has been very typical," she said. "I think that they have done a very good job to mobilize their resources. I think they are taking this very seriously, and I am encourages by this response."
After the health briefing, Bassett reiterated the response was acceptable.
"The city has responded promptly and effectively, as evidenced by the numbers. The numbers are going down," she said.
Cuomo, hours later, gave a television interview in which he touted the state's response to prevent future outbreaks, declaring, "We can't go through this again."
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.
On average, there are about 540 cases of Legionnaires' disease a year in New York state and about 18,000 cases nationally, and on average. Officials at a Cleveland hospital said Friday that a 53-year-old Ohio woman died from the disease a day earlier.
___
Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this report.


More from News 12
0:37
Virginia man was sentenced to 20 years to life in fatal 2021 shooting of New Rochelle cab driver

Virginia man was sentenced to 20 years to life in fatal 2021 shooting of New Rochelle cab driver

2:01
Scattered showers for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before dry, breezy Saturday

Scattered showers for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before dry, breezy Saturday

0:34
Westchester DA: Yonkers man sentenced 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for fatal June 2023 hit-and-run

Westchester DA: Yonkers man sentenced 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for fatal June 2023 hit-and-run

0:28
White Plains police: Teenager arrested in connection to stabbing of 17-year-old outside gas station

White Plains police: Teenager arrested in connection to stabbing of 17-year-old outside gas station

1:54
Middletown couple fight through lawsuits, zoning problems to open New Paltz cannabis dispensary

Middletown couple fight through lawsuits, zoning problems to open New Paltz cannabis dispensary

0:41
State budget proposal would consolidate Medicaid program used in hiring home health aide

State budget proposal would consolidate Medicaid program used in hiring home health aide

1:35
Double Up Food Bucks program comes to Yonkers market

Double Up Food Bucks program comes to Yonkers market

1:45
Surveillance video captures 58 water trucks in South Blooming Grove neighborhood in one month amid water crisis

Surveillance video captures 58 water trucks in South Blooming Grove neighborhood in one month amid water crisis

0:46
Schuyler Crossing management express frustration with ongoing flooding at affordable housing complex

Schuyler Crossing management express frustration with ongoing flooding at affordable housing complex

Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

0:32
Out-of-court settlement reached in New Rochelle excessive force lawsuit

Out-of-court settlement reached in New Rochelle excessive force lawsuit

0:35
Legal battle over Harrison town supervisor election comes to an end

Legal battle over Harrison town supervisor election comes to an end

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

0:25
Dutchess County drug raid uncovers crack cocaine, cash, ammo and loaded handgun

Dutchess County drug raid uncovers crack cocaine, cash, ammo and loaded handgun

1:24
Westchester County launches Pitch In For Parks initiative ahead of Earth Day

Westchester County launches Pitch In For Parks initiative ahead of Earth Day

1:38
Religious leaders work to salvage sacred Torah scrolls after fire

Religious leaders work to salvage sacred Torah scrolls after fire

0:23
Ford recalls over 456,000 Bronco Sport and Maverick cars due to loss of drive power risk

Ford recalls over 456,000 Bronco Sport and Maverick cars due to loss of drive power risk

1:44
Discover a Gothic Revival masterpiece of art and architecture at Lyndhurst Mansion

Discover a Gothic Revival masterpiece of art and architecture at Lyndhurst Mansion

0:19
Suspect in Rockland County stabbing to appear in Ramapo Town Court today

Suspect in Rockland County stabbing to appear in Ramapo Town Court today

0:51
Save money while helping the planet with these 12 energy-efficient tips

Save money while helping the planet with these 12 energy-efficient tips