Overview
- New York City’s Department of Health opened a building-level probe after two residents of North Shore Towers were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease within the past 12 months, and the agency has notified residents and scheduled a community meeting for Tuesday evening.
- The department has ordered a contractor, to be hired by the complex and overseen by DOHMH, to evaluate the internal hot water and plumbing systems in a process that officials say typically takes several months.
- Health officials say Legionella bacteria have not been confirmed in the building and they are not treating the situation as a neighborhoodwide cluster, stressing that the surrounding community is not at risk and tap water is safe to drink.
- DOHMH issued interim precautions for people 50 or older and for smokers, vapers, people with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems, advising they avoid showers, use baths with slow fills, and seek prompt medical care for fever, cough or shortness of breath.
- The North Shore cases follow deadly summer outbreaks tied to rooftop cooling towers and occur as reported Legionnaires’ infections have risen, a trend that has increased scrutiny of building plumbing, water management and prevention practices citywide.