Legionnaires' Outbreak in New York City
Introduction
In the summer of 2015, an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in New York City left four people dead and dozens more hospitalized. The news spread quickly, and officials scrambled to find the source of the outbreak.
Key Details
After extensive investigation, officials were able to trace the outbreak back to cooling towers on 10 buildings in the Harlem neighborhood. These towers, which are used to cool large buildings, were found to be contaminated with the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease. The towers were quickly disinfected and the outbreak was contained.
Impact
This outbreak served as a wake-up call for the city and its building owners. Many had never considered the potential health risks associated with their cooling towers. In the aftermath of the outbreak, stricter regulations were put in place to prevent future outbreaks. Building owners were required to regularly test and clean their cooling towers to ensure the safety of their occupants. This incident also brought more awareness to Legionnaires' disease and the importance of proper maintenance and upkeep of cooling towers.
