Patient Contracts Legionnaire's At Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A patient at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital on the East Side of Manhattan was diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease, the hospital confirmed Wednesday.
The hospital reported that during routine testing of its water systems last month, results came back positive for Legionella bacteria in some areas.
Emergency response protocols were implemented and crews worked to remove the bacteria, the hospital said.
There was one case of Legionnaire's disease confirmed in a patient, and the hospital said it is working closely with the New York State Department of Health and authorities to protect and treat the patient.
The patient is reported to be on antibiotics. The hospital said it remains fully open as it investigates.
The state Department of Health said it was aware of the Legionnaire's diagnoses as the hospital, and has been working with the medical facility to make sure there is no future risk.
The department has advised water restrictions for the hospital, and the hospital has agreed to put the restrictions in place.
Two Legionnaire's clusters were discovered in New York City last year – contributing to more than a dozen deaths.
In late September 2015, a cooling tower at the Bronx Psychiatric Center was identified as the source of an outbreak in Morris Park, which left one person dead and numerous others ill. All had underlying health conditions.
Legionella bacteria in a hotel cooling tower caused an outbreak of the disease in the South Bronx over the summer in 2015, which contributed to at least 12 deaths.
New cooling tower cleaning regulations were put in place after that outbreak.
Legionnaires' disease — a form of pneumonia especially dangerous for the elderly and for people with underlying health issues — can usually be traced to places favorable to Legionella growth such as cooling towers, hot water tanks, whirlpool spas, hot tubs, humidifiers and condensers in large air conditioning systems. The city says its drinking water supply has not been affected.
It is spread through contaminated mist and cannot be spread from person to person.
