Gov. Kathy Hochul blithely brushed off Legionnaires’ disease prevention efforts on Tuesday after a fifth New Yorker died in an outbreak gripping Harlem.
The insidious pneumonia-like illness has sickened at least 108 people – including 14 who were hospitalized – and killed five as it flooded five ZIP codes in Upper Manhattan, city health officials revealed Monday.
The death toll rose just as city officials announced Friday that 12 cooling towers in Central Harlem – including four atop city- or government-owned buildings – tested positive for live Legionella bacteria and have been fully drained, cleaned and disinfected.
The rising death toll came as city officials confirmed Friday that 12 Central Harlem cooling towers testing positive for live Legionella bacteria have been fully drained, cleaned and disinfected. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
Cases have so far been reported in zip codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039, along with nearby neighborhoods. Rob Jejenich / NY Post Design
Hochul, when speaking with reporters after an unrelated event in Rome, NY, sidestepped The Post’s questions about whether the cooling towers that can breed Legionnaires’-causing bacteria need to be put under stricter rules.
“I’ll determine the right approach on that if there is a legislative solution,” she said, before implicitly washing her hands on prevention.
“But these happen in communities unexpectedly,” Hochul said. “I don’t know how you can prevent it, but monitoring water wells is certainly one path to do that.”
Building owners are required by law to test for the disease-causing bacteria Legionella every 90 days to avoid outbreaks.
The New York Hotel Trades Council Harlem Health Center. A cooling tower at the building required cleaning. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
Hochul also largely defended New York City officials’ response to the outbreak.
“I know the city’s all over this,” she said. “If I didn’t think so, I’d let you know.”
Harlem residents expressed outrage last week at city officials for only revealing exactly where the disease hit despite reports of rising infections for weeks.
The health department has urged those who live or work in the area and are experiencing flu-like symptoms to see a health care provider right away. Google Earth
Until then, officials only revealed it had been detected in the ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039.
Health Commissioner Michelle Morse argued the city withheld the building addresses to help keep all New Yorkers vigilant, regardless of where they live.
Locals also claimed the city dropped the ball on mandatory life-saving inspections.
Only roughly 1,200 cooling towers were inspected for Legionnaires’ bacteria during the first six months of this year, compared to nearly 5,100 at the same point in 2017, data provided by the city Department of Health show.
The Legionella pneumophila bacteria that causes the disease. AP
While deadly if not treated in time, Legionnaires’ disease is easily curable with antibiotics if caught early, officials said.
The health department has urged those who live or work in the area and are experiencing flu-like symptoms to see a health care provider right away.
Symptoms of the disease, which cannot be spread from person to person, include cough, fever, chills, muscle aches, and shortness of breath. Symptoms develop between two and 10 days after exposure.
Between 200 and 700 of 8.5 million New Yorkers are diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease each year, according to the health department.
Five people died at a Manhattan nursing home during the last major outbreak in the summer of 2022.
In summer 2015, cooling towers at the Opera House Hotel infected more than 100 and killed 12 in the South Bronx.