The state Health Department said Friday that New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center has taken the appropriate steps to safeguard patients and staff from an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease.

The finding comes after four patients contracted the disease at the hospital in the past two months. Two of the patients have died, though their cause of death has not yet been determined.

"We cannot confirm the cause of death in either of the cases," said Claire Pospisil, a spokeswoman for the state Health Department, which is investigating the incidents. "Three cases were reported in March and one in April from the hospital. We will continue to closely monitor the situation."

Legionnaires' disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms and was first identified in 1976 in Philadelphia at a convention of American Legion members, which gave the disease its name. Although it can be fatal, according to medical experts, it is treatable.

In a statement, the Manhattan hospital confirmed that Legionella bacteria was identified in the water supply of its Milstein Hospital Building. No other buildings at the medical center were affected, and no other confirmed or suspected cases have been reported, a hospital spokeswoman said Friday.

All four patients had existing serious medical aliments when they arrived at the hospital that may have weakened their immune systems, the hospital spokeswoman said.

The hospital would not release the names of the four patients or any additional details about them.

According to published reports, the family of one patient, Richard Montesano, 63, of Westchester County, who died last week after entering the hospital last month for a lifesaving heart procedure, blamed the hospital for his death and has threatened a lawsuit.

The Montesano family could not be reached for comment. A lawyer representing the family did not return Newsday's calls.
 

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