The New York City Health Department has released information about the details of their investigation into the deadly Legionnaires' Disease outbreak in the South Bronx. That outbreak has sickened 124 people and killed 12 this summer. Most of the Legionnaires' Disease outbreaks that have occurred in the past have been linked to large buildings. Scientists believe that those buildings have more complex cooling and HVAC systems, which allow the bacteria to grow and spread. The source of the outbreak was the cooling towers at the Opera House Hotel. Epidemiologic and environmental investigations found the outbreak strain of the bacteria at that site. The report states that "inadequate maintenance and inadequate levels of biocide may have contributed" to the outbreak. All cooling towers in … [Read more...]
Legionnaires Lawsuit Filed In New York’s Opera House Outbreak
A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a man sickened in the Legionnaires' Disease outbreak linked to the Opera House Hotel in New York City. At least 128 people in the South Bronx were sickened in the outbreak which began July 10. Twelve people died. Legionnaires’ Disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms including fever, cough, fatigue, confusion, aches and lung inflammation. It is transmitted when contaminated water mist from showers, faucets, whirlpools, swimming pools, fountains or cooling towers in air conditioning systems is inhaled. It does not spread from person-to person. City and state health officials worked together with investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to find the source of the city's largest-ever Legionnaires' outbreak. They tracked … [Read more...]
Timeline of Bronx Opera House Hotel Legionnaires’ Outbreak
The Opera House Hotel in the South Bronx, New York City, has been identified as the source of the Legionnaires' Disease outbreak that has sickened 124 people and killed 12. The New York City Health Department has put out a map showing the affected areas where the outbreak pattern was found. Many of the patients live within a short distance of that hotel. All patient results match the outbreak pattern. The outbreak timeline is telling. The investigation began on July 20, 2015 with reports of people sickened with this pneumonia-like illness. From July 21 through the 27, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) investigated the outbreak, and started sampling cooling towers in the area on July 28. On July 29, 2015, the Opera House Hotel tested positive for … [Read more...]
Mayor’s Office Identifies South Bronx Legionnaires’ Disease Sites
A total of 18 sites that have been contaminated with legionella bacteria have been identified in the South Bronx, New York City, according to the Office of the Mayor. All testing was conducted by a single laboratory run by the State of New York and the Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany. Eleven sites tested positive for the bacteria within the impact zone. Seven sites have tested positive for legionella that are outside of the impact zone; they are not necessarily related to the South Bronx outbreak. Every cooling tower in the impact zone has been disinfected and remediated. The list of contaminated sites in the impact zone is as follows: Concourse Plaza at 198 E. 161st Street, Opera House Hotel at 436 E. 149 St., Lincoln Hospital at 234 E. 149 St., Streamline Plastics at 2950 Park … [Read more...]
New York Updates South Bronx Legionnaires’ Outbreak
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has updated the Legionnaires' Disease outbreak in the South Bronx. As of August 15, 2015, 124 people are sick, and 12 people have died. Ninety-four people have been hospitalized, treated, and released. No new cases have been reported with symptoms onset date after August 3, 2015. Officials believe that one or more of the five locations that tested positive was the source of the outbreak. All of those locations have been disinfected, and they believe the outbreak has been contained because of those actions. Legionnaires' bacteria thrives in water that sits for long periods of time. Cooling towers are the problem in this outbreak. They emit a mist that, if contaminated with bacteria and inhaled, cause the disease. Public … [Read more...]
Now 12 are Dead in the South Bronx Legionnaires’ Outbreak
The Legionnaires' Disease outbreak in the South Bronx, New York City, has now claimed the lives of 12 people, according to the Health Department. All of the deceased had an underlying medical conditions. At least 113 people are sick in this outbreak. Seventy-six people have been treated and discharged from the hospital. No new deaths have been reported since August 4, 2015, and no new cases have been diagnosed since August 3, 2015. Officials are hopeful that the source of the outbreak has been contained, since the facilities first identified as being contaminated have been disinfected. The source of the pathogenic bacteria is cooling towers in the area. Those towers are used in air conditioning and heating systems and work by pulling heat from a building, then use evaporation to move … [Read more...]
Seven People Now Dead in New York Legionnaires’ Outbreak
Seven people have now died in the Legionnaires' Disease outbreak in the South Bronx, New York City. The Health Department is investigating water from cooling towers, which it believes is the source of the bacteria. Eighty-six people are ill. At a press conference, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that legislation for tightening regulation of water cooling towers will be introduced this week. Five cooling towers in the South Bronx have tested positive for the pathogenic bacteria. One of the towers is at the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, where some of the patients are being treated. The legislation would require that building owners would have to register their cooling towers with the city. The towers would be regularly inspected. If Legionnaires' bacteria are … [Read more...]
Legionnaires Outbreak in South Bronx, New York Sickens 31
The New York Health Department is investigating an outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in the South Bronx. Thirty-one cases of this illness have been reported since July 10, 2015. Anyone who lives in New York who has been sick with fever, cough, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, diarrhea, and muscle aches should immediately seek medical attention. Two Legionnaires' patients have died; the Health Department is investigating these deaths and their relationship to the outbreak. Public health officials are testing water from cooling towers and other potential sources of the bacteria in the area. Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria. Most are traced to contaminated water. Hot water tanks, cooling towers, humidifiers, hot tubs, air conditioning systems, … [Read more...]
Florida Marriott Legionnaires Outbreak Raises Questions
An outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease possibly associated with the water system at SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Altamonte Springs, Fla., has raised questions about what the hotel was doing to prevent such an event. That's because hotels, hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions with large man-made water systems are expected to guard against Legionella bacteria. So far, the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County has confirmed three cases of Legionnaire's Disease, a type of pneumonia that can be fatal 50 percent of the time if no treatment is sought. The health department said all three patients stayed or had exposure to the SpringHill Suites Hotel Altamonte Springs/Maitland located at 205 W. State Rd 436. The most recent cases occurred in April and the health … [Read more...]
Legionnaires’ Outbreak at Altamonte Springs Springhill Suites by Marriott
A Legionnaires' Disease outbreak at the Springhill Suites by Marriott in Altamonte Springs, Florida has sickened at least three people and potentially exposed thousands of others. The Seminole County Health Department is contacting every guest who has stayed at the hotel since since September 2014 to alert them to the dangers of the disease which can be fatal for those with weakened immune systems. Legionnaires' Disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, confusion, aches and lung inflammation. Symptoms usually appear two to 14 hours after exposure. Anyone who stayed at the hotel and has these symptoms should see a doctor right away and mention exposure to Legionella bacteria. The three guests who became ill are being treated. People contract … [Read more...]
