Bacteria that may cause Legionnaires' disease have been identified in a cooling tower at Yankee Stadium. This identification comes amid a cluster of illness cases in the Bronx that has led to one death.
Analysis and Initial Results
The New York City Health Department announced that further testing is underway to determine whether the Legionella bacteria in the towers are alive, as only active bacteria can cause pneumonia-like illness. Initial tests last week showed signs of either live or dead bacteria, while the Yankees team stated that none of the current cases in the area are linked to the stadium.
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Outbreak Status
Health officials are investigating a potential cluster in the community south of the Bronx, where Yankee Stadium is located. So far, 10 people have tested positive for the disease, including one individual who has died and three others who are currently hospitalized. All 10 cooling tower owners have been ordered by authorities to clean and disinfect their equipment by Monday.
The Yankees team confirmed that the cooling tower that tested positive was fully drained and disinfected on Sunday morning. The health department has advised individuals who visited the Melrose and Morrisania neighborhoods in the Bronx since late August to contact a healthcare provider promptly if they experience flu-like symptoms.
Preventive Measures
The Yankees team stated in a release that new, advanced cooling towers will be installed at the stadium in 2024, and water quality and bacteria tests will be conducted weekly. The results of these tests will be sent to the city monthly. Additionally, their latest test on August 20 was negative for Legionella bacteria.
This disease is treatable, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10 percent of patients result in death. The disease is caused by Legionella bacteria that thrive in warm water environments such as building cooling units and hot tubs.
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Source: independent.co.uk
