Opinion:Washington Heights Legionnaires’ Outbreak – The Questions NOT Being Asked

Statement from the Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease

Hundreds of people contract Legionnaires’ disease every year in New York City. According to the CDC, 96% of cases are single and sporadic in nature and NOT linked to an outbreak. This means that Legionella bacteria is entering our homes and places of work year round through our drinking water distribution system.

One recent example is 60-year-old Lorenzo McGougan of Washington Heights. His case was NOT part of an outbreak so it was not investigated. A recent quote from Mr. McGougan, “An investigation into my case could have prevented this recent outbreak.”

Outbreaks present a time for questions to be answered, but we must make sure we are asking the right ones. Here are some of the questions we’ve noticed that have not been asked to the Health Department but are crucial to this story line:

1. Is the reason the Health Department is NOT testing the public water system for Legionella bacteria because it could impact the water filtration avoidance granted to the City by the EPA?

2. CDC data says that a majority of community outbreaks are linked to drinking water systems. Are water systems, including the buildings’ water storage tanks (which have recently been called into question), being tested? If so, what other water-using devices, like shower heads and water fountains, are being tested?

3. What water sampling is being done in the homes and places of work of the individuals in this area?

4. Are water samples being taken from the homes and workplaces of the victims?

5. How often do you check the water from the public water supply that enters homes and buildings specifically for Legionella bacteria?

6. How does Legionella bacteria get into a cooling tower?

Legionella is a waterborne bacteria that exists naturally in the City’s water source so it is imperative that we start talking about the water and its relationship to Legionnaires’ disease infections throughout the City.

The Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease has experts ready to speak so please feel free to reach out to us with questions or for additional perspective.

Learn more: www.preventlegionnaires.org

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