The Westchester County Department of Health announced today that ninecases of Legionnaires’ disease have been identified in New Rochelle since June 21.  Additional cases of  patients with pneumonia are also currently under investigation as possible Legionnaire’s cases.  In previous years there have only been 7 to 10 cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported countywide annually.
 
Preliminary investigation by the New York State Department of Health and the Westchester County Department of Health indicates a possible source of contamination may be an outdoor cooling tower on the campus of the Sound Shore Medical Center.  Water samples were obtained earlier this week from the hospital’s cooling tower and an initial test indicated the presence of Legionella bacteria; follow-up testing is underway. Although this tower has not been confirmed as the source of the bacteria, hospital officials are voluntarily disinfecting the unit as a precautionary measure.
 
“Sound Shore Medical Center is to be commended for its rapid response to the possible cause of the problem by aggressive disinfection of the cooling tower,” said Joshua Lipsman, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of Health.
 
John Spicer, President of Sound Shore Medical Center, assured  patients and staff that the Sound Shore Medical Center is taking every precaution to assure the health and safety of staff and patients.  Mr. Spicer  also noted that additional measures were instituted as soon as the hospital became aware of the possibility that the cooling tower may be a source.  These measures included super chlorination of the cooling tower and the addition of biocide to reduce the biofilm level.  The tower had been previously tested in May 2005 and was found to be negative for Legionella.
 
“Although there has been very rapid response to this situation, it is possible that additional cases may be identified since the incubation period for Legionella can be up to a few weeksafter exposure,” said Dr. Lipsman.  Early symptoms of Legionellosis may be flu-like, with muscle aches, headache, tiredness, and dry cough, followed by high fever, chills, and occasionally, diarrhea.  Temperatures commonly reach 102-105 degrees Fahrenheit, and chest x-rays often show pneumonia.  The incubation period for Legionnaires’ disease is usually 2 to 10 days.
 
The patients identified to date all have underlying medical conditions and range in age from 34 to 83.  Five of the ninecases have been discharged from the hospital and are recovered or recovering at home.  The other fourcases remain hospitalized and are in stable condition.  People with chronic illnesses are at increased risk of Legionnaires’ disease.  The disease is rare among children and otherwise healthy people.
 
“Anyone who develops fever and respiratory symptoms should contact his or her medical provider to be evaluated,” noted Dr. Lipsman.  Physicians have been alerted to include testing for Legionella infection in their evaluation of appropriate patients.  Specific diagnostic tests now being performed may result in a larger number of cases than usual since clinicians do not routinely test for this disease.
 
Legionnaires' disease is most often contracted by inhaling aerosols from water sources such as whirlpool baths, showers, and cooling towers that are contaminated with Legionella bacteria.  Legionellosis is most common during the summer season, because warm weather promotes the growth of the Legionella bacteria in the environment.  There is no evidence that Legionnaires’ disease is spread person-to-person.
 
Recent heavy rain fall, coupled with hot, humid weather are prime conditions for the Legionella bacteria to grow and thrive.   When Legionella bacteria develop in a cooling system, the mist from the system can become a source of infection.

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