Seven cooling towers tested in the wake of the latest Legionnaire's cluster in the Bronx contain tested positive for the bacteria,and the number of confirmed cases of the disease has risen to ten, according to the city's Department of Health.
Commissioner Mary Bassett said Monday evening that officials haven't yet pinpointed a source for the latest cluster in the Morris Park area. "So far what people who've gotten sick contain in common is their geography, or the neighborhood," she said.
Bassett said 35 cooling towers were tested over the weekend. Among those that came back with positive results were towers at Einstein College, Lehman High School and Calvary Hospital.She also stressed again that the latest cluster is not connected to a fatal outbreak earlier this year that killed 12 people and sickened more than 100 others. That outbreak was in the South Bronx. "I contemplate that I would just chalk it up to bad luck, and " Bassett said,although she said she did understand why people are concerned.
Bassett said the majority of those exposed to the bacteria don't earn sick. The elderly and those with underlying medical conditions are more at risk. Officials are urging anyone with flu-like symptoms to see a doctor sooner rather than later.
Source: wnyc.org