August 12, 2015
NEW YORK—Today, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett and New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. Zucker gave an update on the outbreak Legionnaires' disease in the Bronx. All testing is done by a single laboratory run by the State of New York and the Wadsworth Laboratory located in Albany, and as such all information is uniform and coordinated.
Three new sites have tested positive for legionella within the impact zone – this is in addition to the 11 previously identified inside the impact zone. Separately, six sites have tested positive for legionella outside of the impact zone that are not necessarily related to the outbreak in the South Bronx.
In combination, to date a total of 20 sites have been identified inside and outside of the impact zone.
Regardless of test results, every cooling tower identified in the impact zone has been immediately ordered disinfected and remediated. Any site, regardless of its location, that has tested positive has been immediately ordered disinfected and remediated. The Commissioner's Order issued last week by Commissioner Dr. Bassett instructs all building owners in the city to inspect the cooling tower and associated equipment for the presence of contaminants, and – regardless of the outcome of the evaluation – carry out a disinfection/treatment sufficient to remove bacteria and contaminants.
Below is a list of the sites within the zone that has been identified as of today. Each of these sites have been disinfected and remediated.
The following sites have newly been identified as testing positive and are inside the zone. Each of these sites has either been disinfected and remediated or is in the process of being disinfected and remediated.
The following sites have been identified as testing positive but are outside the impact zone and not necessarily related to the outbreak in the South Bronx. Each of these sites have been disinfected and remediated.
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