Bronx cooling towers, including at Yankee Stadium, test positive in Legionnaires’ outbreak probe
Ten cooling towers in the South Bronx, including systems at Yankee Stadium and Lincoln Hospital, tested PCR-positive for Legionella DNA as health officials investigated an outbreak linked to one death and nine diagnosed cases.
The city Health Department said 24 cooling towers in ZIP codes 10451 and 10456 were tested after a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases was identified in Melrose and Morrisania on Sept. 10. The 10 towers with positive PCR results were ordered to be cleaned and disinfected by Sept. 14.
PCR testing detects Legionella DNA but does not show whether the bacteria were alive when samples were taken. Health officials are now running culture tests, with results expected in up to two weeks. Cooling towers can spread contaminated water mist and are tested regularly under city rules because they have been tied to past community outbreaks.
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