Two city buildings, including Harlem Hospital, were the sources of the deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that has killed seven people, health officials revealed Friday.
A strain of the pneumonia-like illness found in seven of the more than 100 patients was matched to Legionella bacteria from cooling towers atop the hospital and a construction site at 40 West 137th Street, where the city’s public health laboratory is located, officials said.
When asked if the city would take any responsibility for the outbreak, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro deflected.
Mayor Adams drinking water at Harlem Hospital to address Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.
Graph showing daily Legionnaires’ disease diagnoses in Central Harlem. NYC Health Department“We aim to prevent any spread of Legionnaires’ from occurring, that has always been our aim,” he told reporters. “Obviously, there was a spread that occurred here and we are going to take the steps necessary to make reforms.”
The Harlem cluster of Legionnaires’ disease is now at an end and an investigation into its cause has been closed, health officials said.
Lawsuit announcement press conference with Ben Crump, Al Sharpton, and others. Robert Miller
Legionella bacteria was found on cooling towers on top of a construction site at 40 West 137th Street. Google Maps
The announcement seemingly confirmed suspicions that city-owned buildings helped fuel the outbreak that sickened 114 people who live and work in Harlem.
“After an extensive investigation, we were able to identify two cooling towers that had a genetic match with patient specimens,” said Michelle Morse, the city’s acting health commissioner, in a statement.
Legionella bacteria was also found on cooling towers on top of Harlem Hospital. Google Earth“We are working with building owners on next steps to protect the health and safety of Harlem residents and to prevent future clusters.”
Health officials previously revealed that four city-owned buildings had cooling towers harboring the insidious Legionella bacteria that causes the potentially deadly respiratory disease.
The revelation only fueled accusations by frightened and infuriated residents that city officials shirked life-saving inspections on cooling towers.
Harlem Hospital Center entrance during a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. Michael NagleSome went further, with a pair of construction workers – with the support of the Rev. Al Sharpton – filing lawsuits accusing the city of letting Legionella fester and spread from cooling towers atop Harlem Hospital.
Press conference announcing a lawsuit regarding a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. Robert MillerOne of those lawsuits targeted contractor Skanska USA, which was performing work near the cooling tower now identified as one of the outbreak’s sources.
Harlem Hospital emergency entrance sign. Michael NagleHealth officials said Skanska treated the cooling tower on August 1, days after a sample was taken that tested positive for Legionella.
Bacteria in the Harlem Hospital tower apparently proved harder to eradicate.
That cooling tower was sampled July 25 and disinfected five days later, health officials said.
Inspectors had also examined the tower July 30 and found it to be in compliance with Legionnaires’-fighting regulations, according to officials.
But by August 7, the tower tested positive for Legionnella, prompting it to be drained, disinfected and refilled, officials said.
Mastro said the outbreak showed the need for regulations even more stringent than New York’s current aggressive rules, which call for tests in cooling towers every 90 days.
“We’ve learned that acquiring parties to test on a 30-day cycle could be a very positive advance in the future,” he said.
