Jacobi Hospital’s drinking water supply has tested positive for legionella bacteria which causes the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease.
This was discovered during a routine required testing.
NYC Health & Hospitals released the following statement:
“As part of our aggressive water monitoring program, our routine, required testing of our potable water supply found very low levels of Legionella bacteria at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi. Per guidance from the New York State Department of Health, which regulates hospitals, we have taken steps to prevent any impact on our patients, staff, or visitors. Safety is always our highest priority.”
According to the department, no patients are reported to have the disease and that risk to patients, staff and visitors is minimal with zero risk to the neighborhood.
But how can we trust that considering the South Bronx outbreak several years ago which left dozens dead in New York City’s largest outbreak of Legionnaires’?
NYC Department of Health and the rest of the city’s administration insisted back then it wasn’t in the water supply but instead blamed water cooling towers.
Meanwhile it was eventually found in the water supply at several locations where residents became ill and even some died.
Experts agree that legionella is almost always transmitted via drinking supply and not water cooling towers.
Meanwhile 2017 was a record breaking year for legionnaires cases in NYC.
We will continue to monitor the situation and as always we’ll report any changes.
