Traces of the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease recently were found at an East Harlem New York Police Department station house, and one police officer was sickened with the illness, authorities said. The first sign of the disease came after a cop working in the 23rd Precinct on E. 102nd St. was admitted to the hospital with unrelated health problems, sources said.
After running several tests on the officer, doctors uncovered the Legionella bacteria that led to the disease, according to a high-ranking police source. The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association hired a private firm to run tests in the precinct stationhouse after learning of the cop’s infection. Those tests came back positive for traces of the bacteria, according to police.
A new cooling tower was installed in the building in May, but it has not been turned on yet and has been ruled out as a source of the Legionnaires’, health officials said.
The precinct’s hot water supply has been shut off as a safety measure and city health inspectors were on scene Saturday taking samples from the indoor plumbing, authorities said. The outcome of that testing, as well as an air quality check are outstanding.
Read more at on the New York City outbreak: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/east-harlem-nypd-stationhouse-tainted-traces-legionnaires-article-1.3237846
Only a day before that outbreak, Legionnaires’ disease sickened two guests at a Las Vegas hotel. Two recent guests at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas have contracted Legionnaires’ disease, officials said. The guests who contracted the respiratory disease stayed at the hotel separately in March and April, the Southern Nevada Health District said.
Read more on the Las Vegas outbreak at: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/guests-contract-legionnaires-disease-las-vegas-hotel-article-1.3236990
This Quick Read was submitted by Dan Hounsell, editor-in-chief of Facility Maintenance Decisions, dan.hounsell@tradepressmedia.com. For information on separating fact from fiction regarding Legionnaire’s disease, visit https://www.facilitiesnet.com/14035FMD.
