Deadly Westchester Legionnaires' Outbreaks Claimed 2 Lives, Sickened 35 Others Over The Summer

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Westchester County health officials say Legionnaires' Disease was responsible for deaths in White Plains and New Rochelle.

At a press conference this week, Westchester Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler said that in addition to the two deaths, 35 in the county were sickened by Legionella infection.

See Also:

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"I want to address a current public health issue that has affected our community and others across the region. Legionnaires' Disease," Amler said at the Westchester County Executive's weekly update on Monday. "Legionnaires' Disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by Legionella, a naturally occurring bacterium. These bacteria tend to grow in warm, stagnant water, particularly in places like cooling towers, hot tubs, and other man-made water systems where water stands, accumulates. Historically, we have seen more cases of Legionella during the summer months and this summer has been especially hot and humid conditions and these created an ideal environment for Legionella to thrive."

An outbreak this summer in Harlem, resulted in 114 people being infected and seven people dying. The New York City Department of Health identified two contaminated cooling towers at two hospital buildings as the sources of their deadly outbreak. The New York City Department of Health has since declared the outbreak over.

"Here in Westchester, we have seen 37 cases of Legionnaires' Disease so far this season, including two fatalities and our hearts go out to those families that have been impacted," Dr. Amler said on Monday. "Let me take a moment to explain how this disease spreads. Legionella disease is not contagious. It does not spread from person to person. People become infected by breathing mist or vapor containing the Legionella bacteria. Typically from building water systems like air conditioning cooling towers."

The Westchester County Health Commissioner said that early treatment for those infected can be important, especially for those with underlying risk factors.

"We urge anyone who is experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, or headaches to seek medical attention because early diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference," Amler said. "Certain individuals are at increased risk for higher complications, and these include people who smoke, people with chronic health conditions like diabetes and chronic lung disease, and those who are immunocompromised, including individuals with organ transplants, blood cancers like leukemia, and lymphoma or multiple myeloma or end-stage kidney disease."

But at least one attorney says that the Westchester County Department of Health showed what he describes as a "disturbing delay" in notifying the public about the Legionnaires' disease outbreak.

Ronald J. Katter, a New York City attorney, nicknamed "The Legionnaires' Lawyer," says that like in the Harlem case, the lack of immediate transparency is concerning.

"Two people died and 35 were sickened—and yet the public is just hearing about this now," Katter said. "Where is the transparency? Where is the urgency? The Westchester County government has kept its citizens in the dark, and that's unacceptable."

Katter is now calling for a full investigation into the outbreak and what he considers the county's unacceptable delay in releasing public health information.

"We may be looking at parallel outbreaks, both hidden from the public until the damage was done," Katter said. "It's time for health officials in Westchester and across the state to be held accountable."

Katter, who earned his national recognition in 2015 for representing victims of the Opera House Hotel outbreak in the Bronx, points to what he calls a pattern of delayed reporting and lax enforcement.

"If health departments fail to sound the alarm when lives are at risk, then what exactly are they protecting?" he said. "We cannot afford another missed warning."

Amler, however, said that even when there are no outbreaks, efforts to prevent illnesses are ongoing.

"It is important to know that in New York State, cooling towers are subject to strict oversight," Amler said. "They must undergo regular testing and maintenance and results must be reported to state authorities. These precautions are in place to prevent this kind of outbreak. And the kind of outbreak we have seen this summer. An ongoing surveillance is critical. We have to remain vigilant. Public health is a shared responsibility. And we ask all building owners and facility managers to stay up to date on their testing and maintenance and reporting duties."

Matt Smith, an associate sanitarian with the Westchester County Department of Health, in the Division of Environmental Health, helped explain the county's efforts to prevent Legionella infections.

"As Dr. Amler had mentioned earlier, Legionella bacteria occurs naturally in an environment, but they thrive in warm, stagnant water," Smith explained. Typically, between 68 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. These conditions are often found in hot tubs, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, decorative fountains, and, of course, cooling towers. Particularly when they're not properly maintained."

Smith said that cooling towers have become a particular focus of health officials in New York.

"After the Opera House Hotel in South Bronx was identified as a source of an outbreak in 2015 in which 233 illnesses were diagnosed and 16 fatalities, New York established comprehensive regulations," Smith said. "These are the regulations we enforced today. Under these regulations, every cooling tower in New York State is required to register on the New York State Cooling Tower Registry. These towers must undergo annual certifications, monthly inspections, bacteria sampling every 30 days, and Legionella testing at least every 90 days. Here in Westchester, we have 561 towers, with 142 of them here in White Plains alone."

The Westchester County Health Department has been sampling Legionella for years, but the department said enhanced surveillance efforts began after that 2015 outbreak.

"When a cluster of Legionella cases is identified, our disease control team interviews patients and families to help narrow down where exposures have occurred," Smith said. "Then, our environmental staff conducts sampling and investigates potential sources within the environment. This collaborative approach improves our ability to find and address contamination quickly."