Official Statement from Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease Spokesperson Daryn Cline
While the presence of Legionella bacteria at the Jacobi Medical Center is concerning, it is not at all surprising. New York City’s growing and unabated problem with Legionella bacteria is evident by this most-recent discovery, the Washington Heights outbreak and the more than 185 cases already reported to the CDC this year. How many record-setting years of Legionnaires’ disease cases need to occur before our public health officials wake up and start testing the public water supply and distribution system for Legionella?
Hospitals, like the Jacobi Medical Center, have some of the most stringent requirements for managing bacteria in their water systems, but they don’t have any control over what is sent into their buildings from the public water system. Every building owner and facilities manager in New York City experiences this same challenge. We must stop seeding our buildings with Legionella bacteria if there is going to be any meaningful decline Legionnaires’ disease cases.
Our own data demonstrates that virulent strains of Legionella can be found in public places that are all connected to the public water supply system. New York City’s unwillingness to test the public water specifically for Legionella bacteria and properly investigate the overwhelming majority of cases that are single and sporadic in nature is a major concern and must be corrected immediately. New Yorkers deserve a serious effort focused on addressing the record rates of Legionnaires’ disease.
Link to CDC data: https://wonder.cdc.gov/
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