About 12 cooling towers in Yonkers to be tested as Legionnaire's disease outbreak continues
Dr. Amler says scientists will be looking for organisms in the cooling towers that have the same DNA as what has been found in Legionnaire's disease patients.
Approximately a dozen cooling towers in Yonkers will be tested as the outbreak of Legionnaire's disease continues in Westchester County.
In her weekly update on the number of legionella cases in the county, Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler shared some concerning news.
"We have identified a cluster of five cases in Yonkers. The New York State Department of Health used the state registry to identify about a dozen cooling towers within a 2-mile area. Our inspectors will sample these towers this week and the samples will be tested at the New York State lab," she said.
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Dr. Amler says scientists will be looking for organisms in the cooling towers that have the same DNA as what has been found in Legionnaire's disease patients.
The disease spreads when contaminated water mist or droplets containing legionella bacteria are inhaled.
"If any tower tests above the acceptable level, building management must perform immediate disinfection and take corrective action to reduce bacteria Approximately a dozen cooling towers in Yonkers to be tested as the outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease continues in Westchester County
In her weekly update on the number of Legionella cases in the county, Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler shared some concerning news.
"We have identified a cluster of 5-cases in Yonkers. The New York State Department of Health used the state registry to identify about a dozen cooling towers within a 2-mile area. Our inspectors will sample these towers this week and the samples will be tested at the New York state lab," she said.
Dr. Amler says scientists will be looking for organisms in the cooling towers that have the same DNA as what has been found in Legionnaire's Disease patients.
The disease spreads when contaminated water mist or droplets containing Legionella Bacteria are inhaled.
"If any tower tests above the acceptable level, building management must perform immediate disinfection and take corrective action to reduce bacterial growth." She added.
"Definitely scary to hear that. This is my first time hearing about it, I haven't heard anything about it and wow! It's a lot." Said Antoine Walton of Yonkers.
According to Dr. Amler, there are now thirty-eight confirmed cases of Legionnaire's Disease in Westchester County, so far this year.
There were twenty-four cases reported last year.
Two people have died, including one New Rochelle resident and another person who lived in White Plains.
A Westchester County spokesperson declined to reveal the locations of the cooling towers in Yonkers that are being tested.
"We cannot share that information because of privacy laws," she said.
"I say that's unacceptable, completely and totally because we need information, so we know how best to protect ourselves. Without it, we're just stuck," said Yonkers resident Altanise Whichard.
"Definitely scary to hear that. This is my first time hearing about it, I haven't heard anything about it and wow! It's a lot." Said Antoine Walton of Yonkers.
According to Dr. Amler, there are now thirty-eight confirmed cases of Legionnaire's Disease in Westchester County, so far this year.
There were twenty-four cases reported last year.
Two people have died, including one New Rochelle resident and another person who lived in White Plains.
A Westchester County spokesperson declined to reveal the locations of the cooling towers in Yonkers that are being tested.
She said, "We cannot share that information because of privacy laws."
Yonkers resident Altanise Whichard responded by saying, "I say that's unacceptable, completely and totally because we need information so we know how best to protect ourselves. Without it, we're just stuck."
