NEW YORK (Sputnik) — The number of reported individuals with Legionnaires’ disease has reached 100 and the death toll has risen to 10, de Blasio added.
“This order instructs the owners or managers to test and disinfect their cooling tower within the next 14 days. Failure to comply with the commissioner’s order is a misdemeanor.”
On July 10, the first cases of people who have contracted the Legionnaires' disease were reported. The disease is airborne and is transmitted through fine mist.
The outbreak is localized in the South Bronx area, where officials flush water towers with fresh water to reduce potential exposure.
Earlier on Thursday, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz urged the city, state and US federal government to join to tackle the epidemic.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health continues to interview patients and review records to determine whether cases share a common exposure.
De Blasio called the latest Legionnaires’ outbreak the largest epidemic of the disease in New York history.
