FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 19, 2005

SIX ADDITIONAL CASES OF LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE IDENTIFIED IN NEW ROCHELLE

Total Number of Cases Reaches Eighteen

The Westchester County Department of Health announced today that six additional cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been identified in New Rochelle, bringing the total number of cases up to eighteen since June 21. Other patients with pneumonia are also currently under investigation as possible Legionnaire’s cases. All patients thus far appear to have been exposed through an outdoor cooling tower located on the grounds of Sound Shore Medical Center. In previous years there have only been 7 to 10 cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported countywide annually.

Preliminary investigation by the New York State Department of Health and the Westchester County Department of Health indicates a possible source of contamination may be an outdoor cooling tower on the campus of the Sound Shore Medical Center. At this time, this cooling tower has been removed from the Medical Center’s premises and a replacement unit has been installed. Water samples cultured from the hospital’s cooling tower last week did indicate the presence of Legionella bacteria, and follow-up testing is being conducted. Other sources of Legionella contamination also continue to be investigated.

John Spicer, President and CEO of Sound Shore Medical Center, assured patients and staff that the Sound Shore Medical Center has taken and continues to take every precaution to assure the health and safety of

staff and patients. Mr. Spicer also noted that additional measures were instituted when the hospital became

MORE

Legionnaires’ Disease P.2

aware of the possibility that the cooling tower may be a source. These measures included chlorination of the cooling tower, addition of biocide to reduce the biofilm level, and the replacement of the tower on Friday, July 15. The tower had been previously tested in May 2005 and was found to be negative for Legionella.

“Although there has been very rapid response to this situation, it is possible that additional cases may be identified since the incubation period for Legionella can be up to two weeks after exposure,” said Dr. Lipsman. Early symptoms of Legionellosis may be flu-like, with muscle aches, headache, tiredness, and dry cough, followed by high fever, chills, and occasionally, diarrhea. Temperatures commonly reach 102-105 degrees Fahrenheit, and chest x-rays often show pneumonia. The incubation period for Legionnaires’ disease is usually 2 to 10 days.

The patients identified to date all have underlying medical conditions or risk factors for developing Legionnaires’ disease and range in age from 39 to 83. Twelve of the 18 cases have been discharged from the hospital and are recovered or recovering at home. The other six cases remain hospitalized and are in stable condition. People with chronic illnesses are at increased risk of Legionnaires’ disease. The disease is rare among children and otherwise healthy people.

“Anyone who develops fever and respiratory symptoms should contact his or her medical provider to be evaluated,” noted Dr. Lipsman. Physicians have been alerted to include testing for Legionella infection in their evaluation of appropriate patients. Specific diagnostic tests now being performed may result in a larger number of cases than usual since clinicians do not routinely test for this disease.

Legionnaires' disease is most often contracted by inhaling aerosols from water sources such as whirlpool baths, showers, and cooling towers that are contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Legionellosis is most common during the summer season, because warm weather promotes the growth of the Legionella bacteria in the environment. There is no evidence that Legionnaires’ disease is spread person-to-person.

For additional information, call the County Health Department at (914) 813-5000 or visit www.westchestergov.com/health.

-30-