Yankees fans who attended games in the last month at Yankees Stadium are advised to get tested for Legionnaires’ disease if they begin to demonstrate flu-like symptoms. This is due to testing that revealed a cooling tower at the Stadium was contaminated with Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease. It is also part of a larger ongoing outbreak across the South Bronx, which has already killed at least one person.
Testing Reveals Legionnaires’ Risk at Yankees Stadium
Yankees Stadium has advised anyone who visited the Stadium in the past month to get tested for Legionnaires’ disease if they start to feel ill. This is due to a cooling tower at the Stadium testing positive for Legionella, meaning fans may have been unwittingly exposed at any time in the past month. The tower in question has already been remediated, meaning there is no current danger, but symptoms of the disease can take up to two weeks after exposure to appear.
Ongoing Outbreak in South Bronx
The incident at Yankees Stadium is part of a larger outbreak ongoing in the South Bronx, which has resulted in a number of hospitalizations and at least one death. Thus far, ten cooling towers in the area have tested positive for Legionella, and more testing is underway to determine the extent of the outbreak. There is a health advisory for the 10451 and 10456 ZIP codes, and people who live or work in the affected areas should take extra care to avoid infection.
Heightened Concern Due to Previous Outbreaks
Unfortunately, this is simply the latest Legionnaires’ disease outbreak to affect New York City, the third in two years. Last year, Harlem suffered a major outbreak that infected more than 100 people, and the Upper East Side also saw more than 90 cases just a couple of months ago. It shows a worrying trend that these sorts of outbreaks may become more common, especially if people get careless about testing for Legionella on a routine basis.
What You Should Do if You Get Sick
If you live anywhere there has been an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, and you begin to exhibit flu-like symptoms, you should speak to a doctor and get tested as soon as possible. You should also speak to a lawyer with experience handling Legionnaires’ disease cases, such as the Katter Law Firm. The sooner you call, the sooner they can get to work for you.
Since 2015, attorney Ronald J, Katter has been at the forefront of New York City’s Legionnaires’ disease crisis, recovering millions of dollars for dozens of individuals sickened by preventable outbreaks. As a trusted media contributor, he regularly provides live commentary and sharp legal analysis on complex public health litigation for The New York Times, ABC, CBS, WPIX, 1010 WINS, and the New York Post.
On-Call for Breaking News: Mr. Katter is available on short notice for in-person, remote broadcast, or telephone interviews regarding current and ongoing NYC outbreaks.
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