#Legionnaires Found in Lehman

***UPDATE***

No signs of Legionnaires had been detected at the Hutchinson Metro Center

Hutchinson Metro President Joseph Kelleher issued the following statement:

"The health and safety of those who work  and visit our properties is of the utmost importance to Simone Development. All of our rooftop cooling towers and other equipment are inspected and tested on a regular basis as per department of Health mandates. There are a total of five cooling towers atop two buildings at the Hutch Metro Center and they have been under contract for regular inspection, cleaning and disinfecting on a regular basis since their construction. These towers were all tested during the first week of August by our vendors Cascade Water Services and NALCO Environmental Hygiene Services."

Legionnaires Found in Lehman
Einstein College, Calvary, Bronx State all Test Positive

By Dan Gesslein

Shock amongst the city’s silence swept through Pelham Bay and Morris Park as word dripped out that Lehman High School tested positive for the Legionella bacteria.

In addition, the following locations also tested positive for the disease: the Chase bank at 2725 East Tremont; Calvary Hospital at 1740 Eastchester Rd.; Lehman High School at 2964 East Tremont; Bronx State Psychiatric at 1500 Waters Pl.; Einstein College at 1199 Sacket Ave., 1845 Eastchester Rd., and 1301 Morris Park Ave.

No word about whether the Metro Center and the new Hilton Hotel which are adjacent to Calvary Hospital and Bronx State were impacted.

At Lehman High, classes resumed today after the cooling tower was cleaned. 

“The water in the cooling tower is self-contained and is separate from the water used by the school," said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in a NBC interview.

Shock over the latest revelations is angering and upsetting residents who have not heard anything about the latest revelations. The Health Department still has not issued press releases and updates about the source of the disease. 

Before the latest announcement about the sources, an emergency town hall meeting was called for Thursday.

This comes as three new cases of the disease have been diagnosed. The current number of cases has grown to 10.

In Morris Park, residents are on edge. The neighborhood has been decorated for the upcoming Bronx Columbus Day Parade yet all anyone is talking about is the outbreak. The local supermarket has a sign in its window stating that it does not have a cooling tower. This is a reference to the cooling towers in large buildings where the disease has been detected.

Health officials will be on hand to answer questions at Maestros Caterers on Thursday at 8 p.m.

The latest Legionnaires outbreak comes on the heals of an outbreak in the South Bronx which claimed the lives of 12 people and infected 120. There the Opera House Hotel was determined to be the cause of the outbreak.

In January, the first outbreak of Legionnaires occurred in Co-op City. Three people have already filed lawsuits against the management company that runs Co-op City for failing to maintain the cooling towers which they claim resulted in them contracting Legionnaires. 

The outbreaks in such diverse neighborhoods have residents scratching their heads as to what is causing the outbreaks.

In August, Mayor deBasio and Health officials declared an end to the outbreak after no new cases were discovered in the South Bronx.

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