The outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Central Harlem seems to be abating according to the recent data reported by the New York City Department of Health, with only seven new cases reported since Friday. So far, 90 people have been infected and three fatalities have been reported. As of now, 17 individuals are hospitalized due to this severe form of pneumonia, down from more than 20 cases last week, according to Gothamist report.
City health spokesperson, Chantal Gomez, shared optimism about the declining trend, saying, "We're trending downwards and happy to see that trend," although stressing it's too early to declare the outbreak over. The likely source of the outbreak has been traced to a water-cooling tower in the area that tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Officials are still working to confirm which buildings are directly linked to the illnesses, as per Gothamist.
In a move to tighten the net on this public health threat, New York City has proposed stricter regulations for cooling towers, measures that were in the works even before the recent spike in Legionnaires' cases. The CBS News New York indicates that these new rules will augment current testing and reporting requirements, and introduce penalties for non-compliance. The suggested amendments follow a drop in city inspections of water cooling towers since the laws were initially strengthened following an outbreak in the Bronx in 2015, as reported by the Gothamist.
With the outbreak's gravity, the City Council has taken an active stance, calling for an oversight hearing on September 8th to examine public health messaging and the effectiveness of existing regulations. Lynn Schulman, chair of the City Council’s Health Committee, is keen to identify where current measures might be falling short, especially when it comes to newer residential buildings. "I want to see where there's gaps," Schulman told Gothamist.
The Legionnaires' disease cases have been concentrated in several zip codes within Central Harlem. This disease, which is spread through contaminated water vapor but not from person to person, can be particularly threatening to individuals over 50 and smokers. Dr. Michelle Morse, the city's interim health commissioner, emphasized to CBS News New York that symptoms should not be mistaken for a mere cold, and anyone experiencing them should seek immediate medical attention. In the interim, city health officials continue to urge vigilance and prompt response to potential symptoms associated with this preventable yet severe illness.
