The Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on the Upper East Side of Manhattan has already claimed five lives, and sickened more than eighty others. Fortunately, the number of infections has slowed down, and no new buildings have been identified as being contaminated in over a week. However, as this New York Times article points out, that does not mean that concerns over Legionnaires’ disease have waned, as it is likely to be an ongoing issue in New York City for years to come.
A History of Legionnaires’ Disease in NYC
This is far from the first time that New York City has seen a major outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease. Just last summer, Harlem saw a major outbreak that sickened more than 100 people and killed at least six, and back in 2015, there was a cluster in the South Bronx that resulted in 138 diagnosed cases and 16 deaths. Unfortunately, these sorts of outbreaks are likely to become more common over time, not less.
Risk Factors Contributing to Increased Presence of Legionnaires’ Disease
The Legionella bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease is typically found in warm, damp environments, especially in places with significant rust or corrosion. This means that warming weather from climate change has also contributed to the increase of Legionnaires’ outbreaks, with the number of confirmed cases increasing about five times over the past 25 years.
Warming weather also means increased reliance on things like cooling towers and HVAC systems, as well as fire hydrants to put out fires and help people cool down on hot days. Unfortunately, all of these things can become vectors of Legionnaires’ disease, as even the mist from air conditioners can carry Legionella.
How Negligent Property Owners Contribute to Outbreaks
Making things worse is the negligence of property owners, who in NYC are supposed to conduct testing for Legionella in their cooling towers every 30 days whenever they are in operation. In some cases, however, property owners performed testing far less frequently than they were supposed to, and in others, they failed to perform any testing at all. This allowed Legionnaires’ disease to spread without anyone realizing it, with potentially deadly results for those exposed to it.
Remaining Watchful for Legionnaires’ Cases
While no new buildings have tested positive for Legionella and new cases have dropped off in the Upper East Side outbreak, that does not mean the threat of Legionnaires’ disease is gone. So long as conditions remain favorable, it is likely to show up again and again, especially if landlords fail to perform adequate testing and maintenance. That is why it is also important to hold them accountable when their negligence leads to people getting sick, and why you should speak to a lawyer if you have contracted Legionnaires’ disease.
If you or someone you know has been sickened or injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, contact the New York personal injury lawyers at the Katter Law Firm. We will help you protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve. To schedule a consultation, contact us at 212-809-4293, or visit our contact page.