NYC orders cleaning of Yankee Stadium cooling tower amid rising Bronx Legionnaires cases
Nine Legionnaires' disease cases have been linked to a cluster in the South Bronx, prompting the health department to order disinfection of ten cooling towers, including the one at Yankee Stadium.
New York City health officials have ordered the cleaning and disinfection of ten cooling towers in the South Bronx after preliminary PCR tests detected Legionella bacteria. The directive follows an increase in Legionnaires' disease cases in the Melrose and Morrisania neighborhoods, where nine people have now been diagnosed, up from five earlier in the week. One person has died, three remain hospitalized, four have been discharged and one did not require hospitalization.
The health department plans to complete full remediation—draining, cleaning and disinfection—by Monday. While PCR testing identified bacterial DNA at the sites, officials noted that the method does not confirm whether the bacteria are alive or if any tower caused the outbreak; culture testing, which can determine viability, is ongoing and may take up to two weeks.
Among the towers slated for cleaning is the unit at 1 E. 161st St., the address of Yankee Stadium. The Yankees issued a statement noting that their new chiller towers have undergone weekly water quality testing for three years and that recent monthly results were negative for Legionella. They added that the September 11 PCR test detected trace DNA but does not prove the presence of live bacteria, and no cases have been linked to the stadium.
City officials emphasized that there is no added risk from indoor environments, tap water, showers or air conditioners in the affected area. Residents, workers and visitors who have been in the neighborhoods since late August are advised to seek medical care if they develop fever, chills, cough, muscle aches or shortness of breath. The health department is distributing informational flyers and will hold virtual and in-person town-hall meetings to update the public.