Commissioner Martin explains Legionnaires' disease and cooling tower mechanics
Martin explains Legionnaires is pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria in warm water, contracted by inhaling contaminated mist from cooling towers. He notes climate change is increasing risk with longer hotter summers.
As the city's doctor, let me first explain what Legionnaires disease is and is not.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
Legionnaires disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria that are ubiquitous in our environment and grow quickly in warm water.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
It does not spread from person to person.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
It is contracted by inhaling mist, a water vapor that contains Legionella bacteria, which moves invisibly through the air.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
People who are over the age of 50, people who smoke, and people who have certain chronic diseases or compromised immune systems are at greater risk.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
Legionnaires disease is very
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
effectively treated with antibiotics when it is diagnosed early.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
Especially in the summer months when we experience higher temperatures, Legionella bacteria can grow easily in cooling towers, often located on top of buildings.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
With climate change, New York City is experiencing longer, hotter summers and more frequent and intense heat waves every year.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
And that increases the risk of legionella growth in cooling towers.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
It's important to note that cooling towers are separate from indoor plumbing and potable water.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
Cooling towers are mostly used to remove heat from buildings and cool equipment.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.
They should have as much information as those who are comfortable with it.
While towers operate, they release mist into the open air outside.
If you live or work in a building with a cooling tower, your landlord should be required to notify you.
If the cooling tower is contaminated, that mist may actually carry Legionella bacteria.
New Yorkers are some of the most vigilant people on earth.
I know if they know what the reporting requirements are, they will make sure that their landlords are following them.
All of the evidence indicates that that is what happened this summer.
We were overwhelmed with inquiries about whether people should be able to go to the Upper East Side.