As Mayor Bill de Blasio tries to contain what is believed to be the largest outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in city history, he is introducing legislation in the City Council this week to regulate the cleaning and inspection of rooftop air conditioning systems, which are believed to be responsible for the spread of the disease. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.
Eighty-six people in the south Bronx have contracted Legionnaires' disease, and seven have died from it, since the outbreak began July 12.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and his top aides gathered at Lincoln Hospital Tuesday to explain the city's plan to stop this from happening again.
"We do not accept this as an inherent risk that can't be addressed," de Blasio said. "We believe there are additional actions that we can take as a city to improve the situation for the future."
The mayor says he will propose legislation this week to mandate new inspection and cleaning standards for rooftop air conditioning towers. Five of those towers in the south Bronx, including one at Lincoln Hospital, tested positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease. Officials say they have all been cleaned and that the bacteria are no longer present.
New Yorkers are believed to have gotten sick after inhaling airborne mist released from the cooling systems containing the bacteria.
"In summer months, when air conditioning is used a lot, the opportunity for cool water to turn into hot water increases, and that creates a potential setting in which this bacteria can flourish," said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett.
The mayor treaded somewhat carefully when talking about the support he needs in the City Council for his soon-to-be-introduced bill. The Council speaker recently criticized him for suggesting that he controlled the legislative process at City Hall, not her members.
"We're going to work with the City Council," de Blasio said. "I'd like to see it passed as quickly as possible. That's obviously up to the City Council."
The disease has a 10-day incubation period, so it's possible that even though all five cooling towers have been decontaminated, we may see more cases diagnosed over the next week and a half.