State, Federal Investigators Help NYC Battle Legionnaires Outbreak

Beginning Saturday, teams led by the New York State Department of Health will be on the ground in the Bronx to help collect and test samples from cooling towers. 

It's part of a growing effort to contain what has become largest outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in New York history.  So far, five cooling towers in the South Bronx have tested positive for the Legionella bacteria.

"Ten people have passed away, so I understand the anxiety," said New York Governor Cuomo in an interview on NY1. "It is almost like a bad science fiction movie"

Officials said today another person had been diagnosed with the disease, bringing the total of known cases to 101.

The rooftop towers that use water to cool air-conditioning units have long been considered a potential source of Legionnaires' disease, but linking an exact tower with an exact case has always been challenging. Dr. Claressa Lucas from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there does not appear to be any precedent for a cluster of cooling towers becoming infected with legionella bacteria and spreading it over a whole neighborhood.

"We haven't really seen this, but neither have we seen a lot of outbreaks in such a densely populated area, where the towers would be so physically close to each other," she said.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker says the investigation is looking into how vaporized bacteria could possibly get from one tower to another.

"This ties into weather," he said. "This ties into temperature, humidity moisture. It also ties into what point in the season we are."

The state's Health Department is testing the DNA of the bacteria to pinpoint what strains are present, and officials have offered free legionella testing to any building owner who wants it. Meanwhile, New York City is drafting a first-in-the-nation law that would give teeth to industry standards for cleaning and maintaining cooling towers. All city building owners with cooling towers are required to decontaminate them within two weeks, unless they can furnish a certificate showing the towers were cleaned in the prior month. Governor Cuomo said Friday that he also anticipates passing statewide regulations. 

New York City's Health Commissioner, Dr. Mary Bassett, says the rate of infection seems to be slowing.