Outbreak of Legionnaires' disease detected in a Bronx housing complex, distintive from the occurrences in Harlem, as stated by officials.

In the bustling city of New York, cases of Legionnaires' disease often go unnoticed as investigators struggle to establish a link between cases and the source, according to the city health department. However, a recent cluster in Central Harlem has shed light on the issue, with contaminated water-cooling towers identified as the culprit.

Testing by the city has found Legionella in 12 cooling towers at 10 sites in Central Harlem. These towers, which are often used in air conditioning systems, can pose a risk to public health as people can contract the disease by breathing in water vapor containing Legionella bacteria from showers, faucets, or water-cooling towers. It's important to note that Legionnaires' disease does not spread from person to person.

In response, the city has ordered the building owner of Parkchester South to hire experts to evaluate the water system and take measures to control Legionella. However, the city health department has not yet commented on the specific measures being taken to address Legionella growth in the affected buildings.

This is not the first time such an outbreak has occurred in New York. A Bronx outbreak that claimed 16 lives in 2015 prompted the city to regulate water-cooling towers, requiring building owners to perform regular testing and maintenance to control Legionella and report test results to the city.

The Bronx cluster is concentrated in two residential properties, Parkchester South Condominium and Parkchester North. The owner of Parkchester South Condominium is not explicitly named in the available data, but the Homeowners Association (HOA) managing the condominium can be reached at 718-823-7000. Individual unit sales are handled by various real estate agents such as Han Tang Realty Inc. and Alex S. Huang.

The management of Parkchester North and Parkchester South could not be reached for comment.

Cooling towers have gained a lot of attention from officials seeking to control Legionnaires' in the city due to their warm, stagnant water that provides ideal conditions for Legionella to grow. The city logs between 200 and 700 cases of Legionnaires' disease each year, according to city data.

Despite the clusters that sometimes emerge, the city health department maintains that the risk of getting Legionnaires' from a building's plumbing system is low. Residents of affected buildings are advised to be aware of their risk and take necessary precautions to avoid Legionnaires' disease. This includes advice to take baths instead of showers.

Apart from the Bronx cluster, there is no link to the Central Harlem Legionnaires' outbreak. The city has not yet confirmed which tower is responsible for the Harlem outbreak.

As the city continues to grapple with managing and controlling Legionnaires' disease, it underscores the importance of regular testing, maintenance, and reporting of results for water-cooling towers. The public is encouraged to stay informed and take necessary precautions to protect their health.

Outbreak of Legionnaires' disease detected in a Bronx housing complex, distintive from the occurrences in Harlem, as stated by officials.