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Cooling Towers

All articles tagged with #cooling towers

health2 days ago•12 min saved

Two NYC Legionnaires' Outbreaks Spark Scrutiny Over Cooling-Tower Oversight

NYC faces a second Legionnaires' outbreak in as many years, this time on the Upper East Side, sickening about 92 people and killing nine, as health officials race to identify cooling towers linked to the cases. Critics say staffing shortages and insufficient inspections allowed the outbreak to take hold, despite towers testing positive at sites like the Guggenheim and the Met. Officials insist they’ve increased inspectors and enforcement and quickly eliminated the source, but experts argue prevention requires more proactive testing, lower action thresholds, and closer collaboration with building owners. The city is also facing lawsuits over past outbreaks and ongoing debates over regulatory strategies to curb Legionella growth.)

via Gothamist|

#cooling-towers #health #inspections

us-news18 days ago•29 min saved

Legionella scare at Chelsea’s High Line Hotel as staff allege employer muzzled warnings to guests

The High Line Hotel in Chelsea tested positive for Legionella, with an initial 170 cfu/ml reading later rising to 700 cfu/ml after remediation. The Hotel & Gaming Trades Council says management resisted proof of remediation and threatened discipline against workers who tried to warn guests, while staff wore N95 masks and guests reportedly received little, if any, notice or refunds. The issue ties to NYC’s broader Legionnaires’ outbreak linked to cooling towers, and the hotel’s operator, MCR, has a history of cooling-tower violations across its New York properties. The city Health Department said it acted to ensure safety and that guests can continue using building systems; NYC has 92 confirmed Legionella cases and seven deaths so far this year.

via New York Post|

#cooling-towers #high-line-hotel #legionella

health25 days ago•2 min saved

NYC Legionnaires' outbreak: source eliminated as cases near 100

NYC health officials say the source of the Upper East Side Legionnaires' outbreak has been eliminated after two weeks with no new cases; the cluster has 92 cases and seven deaths (as of July 30), with 79 hospitalized (five still in hospital). The city ordered 83 cooling towers to be cleaned and disinfected; 59 tested positive for Legionella and 124 negative. Inspections found two towers with maintenance failures, including one operating illegally without registration. Sequencing of patient and cooling-tower samples is underway, with results expected by the end of August.

via ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos|

#cooling-towers #health #legionnaires-disease

politics26 days ago•28 min saved

Mamdani under fire for celebratory stance amid Legionnaires’ outbreak

Health officials declared the Upper East Side Legionnaires’ outbreak over, but residents and lawmakers blasted Mayor Mamdani’s administration for a tone-deaf victory lap and for lagging cooling-tower inspections, with records showing minimal inspections among roughly 160 buildings in the affected ZIPs in May and June. Seven people have died and five remain hospitalized, leaving open the possibility the toll could match past outbreaks; critics argue the Office of Mass Engagement failed to engage the public during the crisis, while officials defended citywide inspection efforts.

via New York Post|

#cooling-towers #legionnaires-disease #mamdani

health26 days ago•192 min saved

NYC Ends Legionnaires’ Outbreak After 7 Deaths

The New York City Legionnaires’ outbreak that produced seven deaths and about 84 hospitalizations has been declared over after the two‑week incubation period passed. Officials linked cases to Legionella bacteria in cooling towers, testing more than 180 towers and ordering 83 buildings to drain, clean and disinfect. Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious and is treatable with antibiotics, with higher risk for people over 50 or with underlying health issues.

via CNN|

#cooling-towers #health #legionnaires-disease

health26 days ago•2 min saved

Seventh Death in Manhattan Legionnaires Outbreak Mirrors Harlem’s 2025 Toll

New York City health officials confirmed a seventh death from the Upper East Side Legionnaires’ outbreak, with five patients still hospitalized; no new cases have been reported since July 21. The cluster has sickened 92 people, with 82 cooling towers testing positive as of Wednesday, and more than 180 towers tested overall. City inspectors have issued 110 violations, including to 300 East 83rd Street for failing to register its cooling tower. The outbreak mirrors Harlem’s 2025 toll of seven deaths and spurred a law requiring cooling-tower inspections every 30 days; all identified towers have since been cleaned and disinfected.

via NBC News|

#cooling-towers #health #legionnaires

health27 days ago•5 min saved

1520 York Avenue Tops Upper East Side Legionella Violations

City health officials say 82 cooling towers on the Upper East Side tested positive for Legionella, with 110 violations issued across buildings. 1520 York Avenue had the most violations (nine) and a $9,000 fine for failing to test every 31 days and for lacking a maintenance plan; the new 31‑days testing rule took effect in May. Across the area, 60% of tested towers had issues. Final DNA results to pinpoint the source are expected in August. About 92 people have been sickened and six remain in hospital; no new cases have been reported since mid‑July, and all towers have since been cleaned and disinfected.

via NBC New York|

#cooling-towers #health #legionella

health28 days ago•4 min saved

Sixth Fatality in NYC Upper East Side Legionnaires' Outbreak

A sixth death has been reported in the Upper East Side Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that has sickened about 90 people since early July; city health officials say the source is likely a contaminated cooling tower, with dozens of buildings ordered to drain and disinfect their towers as investigators test multiple sites—no new cases have been reported since July 17.

via Gothamist|

#cooling-towers #health #legionnaires-disease

health29 days ago•5 min saved

Live Legionella Found in NYC Upper East Side Cooling Towers Amid Outbreak Probe

New York City's Health Department identified 56 buildings on the Upper East Side with active Legionella in cooling towers as part of a broader outbreak investigation that has sickened 89 people this year; culture tests will confirm the source by comparing live bacteria to patient samples, while inspections and lab capacity remain strained and some buildings are still awaiting results.

via Gothamist|

#cooling-towers #health #legionella

health1 month ago•4 min saved

Live Legionella Found in 50 NYC Buildings as Outbreak Continues

In New York City's Upper East Side outbreak zone, 84 people have tested positive for Legionnaires' disease, including 5 deaths and 59 hospitalizations (13 not hospitalized). Health officials say more than 50 buildings have now tested positive for live Legionella in cooling towers, with a growing list of affected addresses as tests continue. While the source hasn’t been pinpointed, officials believe the implicated towers have been cleaned and no new cases have been reported since July 15, suggesting the source may have been eliminated, though DNA analysis will take weeks to identify the exact tower(s).

via NBC New York|

#cooling-towers #health #legionella

local1 month ago•5 min saved

NYC Legionnaires’ outbreak: five dead as council speaker questions mayor’s handling

New York City’s Legionnaires’ outbreak has grown to five deaths among 84 cases, prompting Council Speaker Julie Menin to blame Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration for a slow, opaque response; health officials defend targeted cooling-tower disinfection and extensive sampling as the most effective approach, noting 183 cooling towers tested with several positives, while the source remains under investigation and officials say the outbreak is likely over.

via ABC7 New York|

#cooling-towers #julie-menin #legionnaires-disease

health1 month ago•25 min saved

Mamdani Downplays Legionnaires Outbreak as NYC Sees Five Deaths

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says the Legionnaires’ outbreak is under control even as the death toll rises to five and 82 people are sick; the Department of Health reports the Upper East Side cluster’s origin has been eliminated and 21 remain ill with 8 hospitalized, while DNA sequencing continues to pinpoint the source. Critics, led by City Council Speaker Julie Menin, demand a more robust public‑health response and oversight. Officials caution against blanket cooling‑tower disinfection, arguing targeted actions are needed to protect high‑risk towers.

via New York Post|

#cooling-towers #health #legionnaires-disease

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Upper East Side Legionnaires' Outbreak in NYC Leaves 5 Dead, 82 Infected

New York City reports an Upper East Side outbreak of Legionnaires' disease with 5 deaths and 82 cases; eight people are hospitalized and no new cases have been reported in six days, suggesting the exposure source may have been eliminated. Legionnaires' disease is a pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria spread mainly via aerosolized water droplets from cooling towers, plumbing, or hot tubs, not person-to-person. Prevention emphasizes robust water management: cleaning and disinfecting cooling towers, flushing infrequently used pipes, maintaining water temperatures and disinfectant levels, and addressing stagnant water. Early antibiotic treatment improves outcomes, and at-risk groups should seek care promptly.

via Fox News|

#cooling-towers #health #legionnaires-disease

health1 month ago•3 min saved

Fifth Death Reported in NYC Legionnaires’ Outbreak as Cooling Towers Are Remediated

New York City reports a fifth death in a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on the Upper East Side, with 82 cases and eight hospitalizations; 34 cooling towers across 33 buildings tested positive and have been remediated, while testing on remaining towers continues and officials caution figures may change.

via The Guardian|

#cooling-towers #health #legionnaires-disease

health1 month ago•4 min saved

Upper East Side Legionnaires’ outbreak claims fifth death as cooling towers are remediated

Five people have died and 82 have been sick in a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The city has confirmed live Legionella in 34 cooling towers across 33 buildings and says those towers have been cleaned or remediated; 140 remaining cooling towers are being tested. Of the sick, 56 have been discharged and eight remain hospitalized, with no new cases in six days. The outbreak spans ZIP codes 10028, 10075 and 10128 as investigators continue to identify and address sources of exposure.

via Gothamist|

#cooling-towers #health #legionnaires-disease