There have been 37 cases of Legionnaires’ disease currently reported in Westchester with two fatalities according to the county’s Commissioner of Health Dr. Sherlita Amler. She said that one of the people who died lived in White Plains and the other lived in New Rochelle. She did not provide additional information about their identities or their illnesses.
The cases in Westchester come on the heels of a Legionnaires’ outbreak in Harlem earlier this summer in which seven people died and more than 100 became ill. The outbreak was traced to the growth of the bacteria Legionella pneumophila in building cooling towers.
According to the Westchester County Department of Health, Legionnaire’s disease occurs year-round, with increased incidence during the summer and early fall. Last year, 67 outbreaks were investigated in New York state. Nationwide, it’s estimated that 10% of the people who come down with Legionnaires’ as a result of environmental exposure will die. If the exposure occurs in a facility such as a nursing home, the fatality rate is expected to be as high as 25%.
People at higher risk for Legionnaires’ disease include persons aged 50 years or older; current or former smokers; and persons with chronic lung disease, immunocompromising conditions, cancer, or conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure.
“Legionella disease is not contagious; it does not spread from person to person,” Amler said. “People become infected by breathing mist or vapor containing the Legionella bacteria. We urge anyone who is experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches or headaches to seek medical attention because early diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference.”
Amler said that in New York state cooling towers are subject to regular testing and maintenance and results must be reported to state authorities.
“These precautions are in place to prevent this kind of outbreak, the kind of outbreak we’ve seen this summer,” Amler said. “On-going surveillance is critical. We have to remain vigilant. Public health is a shared responsibility and we ask all building owners and facility managers to stay up to date on their testing and maintenance and reporting duties. This is how we keep our community safe.”
Matt Smith, an associate sanitarian with the county’s health department said that New York state established extensive regulations designed to prevent Legionnaires’ outbreaks following a 2015 outbreak in the Bronx that resulted in 233 cases with 16 fatalities.
“These are the regulations we enforce today,” Smith said. “Under these regulations, every cooling tower in New York state is required to register on the New York State Cooling Tower Registry. These cooling towers must undergo annual certification, monthly inspections, bacteria sampling every 30 days and Legionella testing at least every 90 days. Here in Westchester we have 561 towers.”
Smith said that there are 146 cooling towers in White Plains and that the health department began stepped up surveillance of the towers in Westchester after the 2015 Bronx outbreak.
“When a cluster of Legionella cases is identified, our disease control team interviews patients and families to help narrow down where exposures may have occurred,” Smith said. “Then our environmental staff conducts sampling and investigates potential sources within the environment.”
Smith said that when issues are found the county staff follows up with building owners and management to ensure that corrective actions are taken promptly. They require that additional disinfection is performed to reduce bacterial growth.
