Health authorities in New York City have reported a sixth death linked to the ongoing outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease.
The New York City Health Department announced on Thursday that this latest fatality comes amid 111 reported cases of pneumonia-like infections in Harlem, with seven individuals still receiving treatment in hospitals. The identities of those who have died remain undisclosed.
This update follows revelations that since late July, 12 cooling towers across five zip codes in North Manhattan, including those of Harlem Hospital, have tested positive for the harmful bacteria.
While these cooling towers were drained and cleaned, local residents expressed their frustration, claiming city officials are not doing enough to combat the deadly illness.
In response, Rev. Al Sharpton, alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump, has initiated a lawsuit against a construction company involved with Harlem Hospital, suggesting that the city failed during its inspection process.
According to a joint statement from Sharpton and Crump, following a storm in July, the cooling tower at the hospital was left untreated despite being filled with rainwater, allowing bacteria to proliferate among workers.
Building owners are required by state and city health regulations to test for the bacteria every 90 days to help prevent outbreaks.
The Department of Health (DOH) also conducts individual inspections of these cooling towers, typically once a year, to ensure proper sanitation and compliance with testing protocols.
Recent DOH data indicates a notable decrease in infections since August 5th.
Dr. Michelle Morse from the committee stated on Tuesday that efforts are in place to manage the disease’s spread.
“The evidence from epidemiological studies suggests that our restoration efforts have been fruitful, as new cases continue to decline,” she noted.
Governor Kathy Hochul defended the response of New York City officials to the outbreak earlier this week.
When asked about whether cooling towers should face stricter inspection requirements or if violations of testing mandates should lead to harsher penalties, Hochul was noncommittal. “Any legislative solution will be evaluated for its appropriateness,” she commented.
“These situations can arise suddenly within a community,” she explained. “I’m not sure how to fully prevent them, but monitoring water sources is definitely one approach.”
