The Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on the Upper East Side of Manhattan has expanded to include 82 confirmed cases, including five deaths. Testing at buildings in the affected area has found the presence of Legionella bacteria in 34 separate cooling towers, with test results waiting for an additional 140 towers. Health officials are still on the lookout for additional cases, with people on the Upper East Side encouraged to get tested for Legionnaires’ disease if they begin to display symptoms.
Five Dead, 82 Sickened in Legionnaires’ Outbreak
As of July 23, there have been a total of five confirmed deaths and eighty-two confirmed illnesses in the Legionnaires’ outbreak on the Upper East Side. The outbreak extends across three ZIP Codes: 10028, 10075 and 10128. In total, 76 buildings were identified as having been contaminated with Legionnaires’ disease, with at least 34 cooling towers also showing signs of Legionella, the bacteria responsible for causing the illness.
Test Results Still Coming in From Cooling Towers
City health officials worked quickly to begin testing for Legionella once the outbreak was discovered, but there are still 140 cooling towers across the Upper East Side that have yet to report results. This bacteria typically grows in warm, wet conditions, meaning that it can quickly spread in warm weather. It tends to grow in places like cooling towers, swimming pools, water fountains, and HVAC systems, as well as baths, showers, and hot tubs.
The Role of Landlord Negligence in Spreading Legionnaires’ Disease
After a Legionnaires’ outbreak last year in the Bronx, New York City passed regulations intended to make property owners perform more regular testing to detect potential Legionella contamination. However, a shocking number of property owners failed to perform this testing as they were supposed to, with many choosing to perform less frequent testing, and others simply neglecting this responsibility entirely. The result is that many people may have become ill who might not have, had the disease been detected earlier.
What You Should Do if You Get Sick
If you live on the Upper East Side, or anywhere else Legionnaires’ disease has been detected, and you begin to experience flu-like symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention. This is not only to ensure you get adequate treatment, but also to get tested for Legionnaires’ disease, because only a laboratory test can confirm the diagnosis. You should also speak to a lawyer with experience handling Legionnaires’ cases, who can help you get the justice you deserve.
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.