Legionnaires Strikes Again

#Legionnaires Strikes Again

7 People Infected in Morris Park

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- The Legionnaires Epidemic does not appear to want to go away. Health officials now say 7 new people have been diagnosed with the disease in Morris Park.

Health experts say this latest outbreak is not related to the South Bronx outbreak this summer in which 12 people died and 120 were infected with the disease.

Officials were vague as to where in Morris Park these cases were diagnosed.

Patients in the current cluster live or work in Morris Park, range in age from 45 to 75 and are all currently hospitalized. There have been no deaths. New Yorkers with respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, chills and difficulty breathing, are advised to promptly seek medical attention.

“We are investigating a cluster of seven cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Morris Park. I urge all New Yorkers to seek care immediately if they have flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, headache, or difficulty breathing. The Department is taking immediate steps to determine the source and protect the people who live and work in Morris Park,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett.

• The Health Department was notified of these seven cases between Sept. 21 and Sept. 27.

• On Sept. 21, when the first case was reported, the Health Department’s disease detectives began investigating immediately. This work initially involves interviewing patients and reviewing medical records.

• Since Saturday, environmental scientists visited all cooling towers and took samples.

• Issued a Health Alert to providers advising them to look for symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, conduct appropriate tests on patients, and provide proper samples to the Department for lab testing.

• Conducting tests at our Public Health Lab and the New York State Wadsworth Center.

• Monitoring Emergency Department visits for pneumonia among residents of Morris Park, which have remained at normal levels.

• Identifying facilities such as nursing homes and senior centers where vulnerable populations live in and near Morris Park. Starting today, the Department will work with other City agencies to send staff to these locations, distributing Frequently Asked Questions about Legionnaires’ disease, answering questions and reminding people to seek care immediately if they have symptoms such as fever, chills and muscle ache.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. issued the following statement:

“My office has been informed by the City’s Department of Health & Mental Hygiene of cluster of Legionnaire’s Disease in Morris Park. We are in contact with city, state and federal officials about this latest outbreak, and we will continue to stay on top of these developments and take the necessary measures as we gather more information.

“My office will share information with the public through my website and through social media channels on this cluster as it becomes available. As we monitor this situation, we urge anyone who feels sick to visit their doctor or a hospital to get checked. It is too important to wait,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Flyers in English, Spanish, French and Chinese answering frequently asked questions on Legionnaire’s Disease can be found at http://on.nyc.gov/1FDHjtT.

#Legionnaires #Outbreak #Morris Park #Bronx #Bronx News

BRONX NEWS: Square Goes Back to the 80’s

BRONX NEWS: Square Goes Back to the 80’s: Square Goes Back to the 80’s BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- On September 26, 2015, the Westchester Square community and merchants paid homa...

Square Goes Back to the 80’s

Square Goes Back to the 80’s

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- On September 26, 2015, the Westchester Square community and merchants paid homage to the 80’s. From 11am – 4pm, the area of Westchester Avenue between Commerce Avenue and E. Tremont Avenue was transformed into a scene straight from the 1980’s. There was 80’s Music, Arcade Games, Trivia, and more for all ages. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their best 80’s inspired getups for a chance to win prizes. 

Presented by the Westchester Square Business Improvement District (BID) and the New York City Department of Transportation.

BRONX NEWS: Fred Prep Beats Mount

BRONX NEWS: Fred Prep Beats Mount: Fred Prep Beats Mount By Gary Quintal BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Catholic high school football capped its week three action with Fordha...

#Fordham Prep Beats Mount

#Fordham Prep Beats Mount

By Gary Quintal

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Catholic high school football capped its week three action with Fordham Prep hosting Mount Saint Michael Academy.  

Fordham Prep averaged 27 points in their first two games this season, while Mount had given up an average of nearly 32 points in its 2 losses.

The trend continued for both teams as Fordham Prep scored all of its 34  points in the first half including 2 touchdown passes in the final 1:13 beating Mount 34-14 to improve to 2-1, while the Mountaineers remains winless at 0-3.  

At half-time Fordham Prep honored Thomas McTigue who passed away in 2007 from leukemia with a ceremony. Friends and family of McTigue were presented a replica of his #42 jersey.  

#Fordham Prep #Mount Saint Michael Academy #Football #Bronx Sports #Bronx News

BRONX NEWS: Last Shot for #Yankees Wild Card

BRONX NEWS: Last Shot for #Yankees Wild Card: Last Shot for #Yankees Wild Card Ackley now in the mix for Yankees with a week to go By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)...

Last Shot for #Yankees Wild Card

Last Shot for #Yankees Wild Card

Ackley now in the mix for Yankees with a week to go

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- The late season acquisitions sometimes don’t transpire to be what a baseball GM envisions when making the move to improve, and then there is Dustin Ackley of the New York Yankees. 

The infielder was a late season and surprising addition that GM Brian Cashman acquired,and once again Sunday afternoon the infielder contributed to the Yankees 6-1 win over the Chicago White Sox in the Bronx.

With the Yankees moving closer to clinching the top American League wild card, and with the way Ackley has been producing, there is the strong possibility that manager Joe Girardi will have no choice: Ackley may have to be a part of the postseason roster.

It will be a one-game elimination at Yankee Stadium next Tuesday night. And with that in mind, Girardi has to assemble the best 25-man roster that can give the Yankees a chance to advance to the American League Divisional Series. After a home run in the sixth inning that put the Yankees ahead 2-0, Girardi hinted that Ackley is in the mix.

“He’s worked really hard  and put himself right into the mix,” Girardi said. And in these final seven games against the Red Sox and Orioles, Ackley could see more playing time at second base as Girardi continues to audition his new addition. It’s a simple equation this late in the game, because Ackley has been productive with 11 hits in his last 28 at bats.

That also means Stephen Drew and Brendan Ryan will have to audition this late in the game. Though it was revealed that Drew and his .201 average, and a tendency to make the error may be forced to sit because of recurring dizzy spells and it could be another concussion he sustained. 

In a game against the Orioles on September 9th, Drew fielded a ball that took a hop off his glove that hit him in the face and that may make the decision easier to eliminate Drew from the mix. Brendan Ryan is another potential second baseman that could be a part of that postseason roster plan, and depending on how Girardi goes with who can hit the lefthander or righthander, the next few games could determine who has the best chance of getting the Yankees to play more after next Tuesday,

“I haven’t thought about, it,” Ackley said about being included in the postseason plan. “I am just focusing on each and every bat to help this team win, I don’t make those decisions of when I play or don’t play. I’m at the point whatever happens, happens.”

Ackley was acquired from the Seattle Mariners on July 30th for righty pitcher Jose Ramirez and outfielder Ramon Flores. With the Mariners, he hit .215 with six home runs, eight doubles, and drive in 19 runs in a span of 85 games. He also had some stints on the disabled list with a right lumbar strain of the back and missed some time when he was acquired by the Yankees.

And as every Yankees fan knows, and this is from previous Septembers, Brian Cashman has always been able to acquire the proper player to give the unexpected. Last September it was Martin Prado with his late inning timely hits though the Yankees fell short of making it to October.

Now it seems to be the September for Ackley. Girardi almost hinted that there will be more playing time for the first round draft pick of the Mariners in 2009. Last Sunday night at Citi Field he hit a home run against the Mets when Matt Harvey was lifted from the game and that helped propel the Yankees to taking two of three in that series.

Girardi has another significant issue to deal with this week,and that is trying to determine when and if Masahiro Tanaka can get another start or two before the season finale next Sunday. If Tanaka and his hamstring coperate, he most likely becomes the starting pitcher in that wildcard Tuesday game.

Ackley, with that home run helped 21-year-old righthander Luis Severino get the win. And with the Yankees offense struggling to score runs at the wrong time of year, the six shutout innings from Severino, and that home run may have made some decisions easier for Girardi as to that one game next week.

“He’s playing because of the way he’s playing,” Girardi said when asked if Ackley will be in the lineup when the Yankees open a four-game series with the Red Sox Monday night. “I think he’s healthy and has made some minor adjustments,” 

Ackley said he learned a lot with his playing time in Seattle and admitted, “I learned a lot here as well. I didn’t  come over here and expect to be handed at bats or anything like that. I think I definitely earned them as far as getting pinch hits and making some spot starts for some guys who needed days off.”

“Just going to keep getting ready every day and hope for more at bats,” he said. And if Ackley is ready and comes up big a few more times this week, the decision becomes that much easier for Girardi to add a name to that roster for next Tuesday.    

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com   Twitter@Ring786  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

#Yankees #Brian Cashman #WildCard #YankeeStadium #Bronx #Bronx News