In Central Harlem, a Legionnaires' disease outbreak has resulted in 67 illnesses and three fatalities since late July. The Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires' Disease criticizes the city's narrow focus on post-contamination strategies for cooling towers, suggesting that prevention measures should address water sources more comprehensively. Research indicates a correlation between outbreaks and heavy rainfall in July, which may have affected the water system. Advocates and victims' families are calling for a source-to-tap prevention strategy like New Jersey's, promoting proactive monitoring and public alerts to mitigate infection rates.
The current approach focuses too narrowly on inspecting and disinfecting building cooling towers after bacteria is already present, instead of preventing its entry into water systems in the first place.
Legionnaires' disease is a severe pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets contaminated with legionella bacteria.
Advocates say such an approach would include proactive monitoring, treatment, and public alerts after water disruptions, aiming to reduce the city's consistently high infection rates.
Family members of past victims are calling for change, urging New York to adopt a "source-to-tap" prevention law similar to one passed in New Jersey last year.
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