NYC targets two sites in Legionnaire's outbreak in the Bronx

NEW YORK — City officials have targeted cooling towers at a hospital and at a mall/movie complex in the Bronx as sources for an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease, which has killed two people in the city since July 10 and sickened 44 more.

The cooling towers at Lincoln Medical Center and at the Concourse Plaza Mall and movie complex are being cleaned to address the outbreak, and 10 more sites in the surrounding area of the South Bronx are being inspected, city officials said Thursday.

Department of Health staffers are also interviewing hospital patients and examining records to find common exposures, officials said in a statement.

The 362-bed hospital is a Level 1 trauma center and the busiest in the region, according to the city's Health and Hospitals Corporation. The mall includes the movie house along with a Blink Fitness, federal offices and a CVS.

"We will continue to be vigilant on all fronts, ensuring the health and safety of New Yorkers by both addressing Legionnaire's at its source, and ensuring affected New Yorkers who need it are getting proper treatment," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

"As we continue to investigate the potential sources of this cluster, we remind New Yorkers that this is a very treatable disease and we urge anyone who might be experiencing symptoms of Legionnaire's disease to seek medical attention immediately," city health commissioner Mary Bassett said.

Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr. said Thursday he was in constant contact with Department of Health officials throughout the day to stay abreast of developments, and he assured he would keep the public notified of any new information.

"My thoughts are with those affected by this disease and we wish those diagnosed a speedy recovery," Diaz told USA TODAY.

Legionnaire's disease is a severe form of pneumonia but can be treated successfully if caught early. Symptoms include cough, fatigue and confusion.

The two patients who died were a man and a woman, both in their 50s, who had other health problems, the NY Daily News reported.

Legionnaire's disease first grabbed national attention in 1976, after attendees of an American Legion statewide convention in Philadelphia became sickened. The disease is spread when people breathe in vapor or mist from contaminated plumbing work. It cannot be spread from person-to-person.