Legionella bacteria was discovered in the water supply of the Jacobi Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y. Following the discovery, NYC Health + Hospitals released a statement concerning the presence of the bacteria.
The statement reads,
“As part of our aggressive water monitoring program, our routine, required testing of our potable water supply found very low levels of Legionella bacteria at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi. Per guidance from the New York State Department of Health, which regulates hospitals, we have taken steps to prevent any impact on our patients, staff or visitors. Safety is always our highest priority.”
Currently, the risk to staff and patients at the medical center is very low, and any risk for the surrounding community is likely nonexistent.
With the detection of the Legionella bacteria, the New York State Health Department has ramped up water treatment and is implementing ongoing water monitoring. Included in these efforts is water restriction, so only bottled water is being used, packaged bath wipes are being made available for daily use and new water filters are being installed on showers.
Despite the seemingly low risk of any sort of Legionella outbreak, some hospital visitors remain wary of the situation.
“We’ve been hearing about this for the past year and a half, two years and the fact they’re still not taking precautions in getting these things checked out,” one visitor said.
