Tempers Rise as Few
Answers Given
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- The temperature
wasn’t the only thing simmering as South Bronx residents’ concerns grow over
the outbreak of Legionnaires Disease that has claimed 7 lives and infected 86
people.
At a town hall meeting at the Bronx Museum of the Arts,
the city tried to calm residents’ concerns over the outbreak of the
pneumonia-like disease, which has spread throughout the South Bronx. Residents
waited in line for hours in the heat as some were turned away from the small
venue. Those who made it inside were treated to city health officials repeating
the same points that have been broadcast on the story. As to what is the cause
of the outbreak little is still known.
Health Commissioner Mary Bassett explained that
Legionnaire Disease can only be contracted by inhaling contaminated water vapor
from cooling towers, and cannot be transmitted from person to person. It was
explained that in the very hot weather if not properly cleaned and maintained
the cooling towers on top of buildings can become breeding grounds for the
Legionnaire Disease bacteria. It was stressed that the NYC water supply was in
no danger from the bacteria, because it is only found in the cooling towers
that evaporate the heat in buildings to water vapor.
Dr. Bassett stressed that there was an incubation period
of 2 - 10 days for Legionnaire Disease, and that is why we still see new cases.
As of Tuesday morning there were seven deaths, and 86 cases of Legionnaire
Disease recorded. Bassett stressed that if you think you may have Legionnaire
Disease to seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms are fever, cough,
chills, and muscle aches. People who smoke or have lung disease, the elderly,
and people with diabetes are of the highest risk of catching Legionnaire
Disease. Five percent of all cases of Legionnaire Disease result in death, and
that there are 250 - 300 reported cases of Legionnaire Disease each year. This
year there have been 256 cases of Legionnaire Disease reported so far.
This recent outbreak of Legionnaire Disease in the Bronx started on July 12th. Since then 22 buildings were visited, 17 cooling towers in all were inspected, and 5 cooling towers were found to be contaminated and have been disinfected already by the city. The health commissioner said that there could be any one of many reasons for Legionnaire Disease bacteria to grow, and that the city council would be looking into legislation to address the matter.
Despite the presentation, many in attendance told the News that not much of what they were told was new information. That coupled with few answers and the restricted number of people at the meeting has some concern about how forth coming city officials were being.
It is unclear why a larger venue for such an important
meeting was not chosen. For example when then Mayor Rudy Giuliani had a town
hall on crime reduction in Bedford Park he chose a large school auditorium to
accommodate the hundreds of residents who had questions. Usually such meetings
are held in schools were they can accommodate large crowds who have plenty of
questions.
Although those who attended the meeting were not panicking, few said there fears have subsided. The sheer scope of the affected areas have many residents concerned. Concourse Plaza testing positive is particularly disturbing because of the high traffic of the shopping center. In addition to locals shopping in the supermarket many people from throughout the borough who attend jury duty at the courthouse across the street eat at the mall’s food court. In addition Yankee Stadium is just down the road.
Concourse Plaza as well as the other sites have been
decontaminated.
Another question not addressed is why the outbreak
occurred in the first place. Were detection and cleanup efforts not stepped up
when a much smaller outbreak was detected in Co-op City earlier this year?
Twelve people came down with Legionnaires after a cooling tower in the
sprawling complex tested positive for the disease. No one died from that
outbreak.
A day after the town hall meeting Mayor deBlasio said the
outbreak has slowed and he believes health officials now have a handle on the
problem.
Bassett said she is confident that they have located the
primary source of the outbreak. One of the five cooling towers that tested
positive is believed to be the source and has since been decontaminated.
“Although we will continue to see cases, we expect the
case rate to decline and the number of cases to fall over the coming weeks,”
Bassett said.
This week deBlasio called for new legislation to inspect
water towers in an attempt to locate signs for the disease before another
outbreak.
“It is encouraging that
Mayor de Blasio has joined my call for new legislation in response to this
current outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben
Diaz, Jr.
“It is the responsibility
of government to protect the health and well-being of the public, and this
common sense proposal will help do just that. It cannot be forgotten that seven
Bronx residents have died during this outbreak. An appropriate inspection
mechanism could have saved lives,” said Diaz.
#LegionnairesDisease
#HealthDepartment #deBlasio
