A Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Central Harlem has now sickened 90 people and caused three deaths, New York City health officials said Tuesday.
The update comes just a few days after the city's health department proposed new rules for the testing of building cooling towers, suspected origin of the outbreak.
Cooling towers are large rooftop devices that release mist into the air to help cool buildings. But if the water inside the tower becomes too warm or isn't disinfected properly, bacteria called Legionella can grow. People can get sick when they inhale this contaminated mist.
A Department of Health spokesperson told CNN that the proposed rules "were in development well before the Legionnaires' cluster in Central Harlem."
Related
