NYC Legionnaire's disease death toll now at 6; decrease in inspections may be factor in outbreak
Health Department sources also revealed a possible contributing factor that may have slowed down the amount of inspection of cooling towers inspected across the city.
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The New York City Department of Health confirmed Thursday that the death toll in the Legionnaire's disease outbreak rose to six, with 111 cases and seven hospitalizations.
Health Department sources also revealed a possible contributing factor that may have slowed down the amount of inspection of cooling towers inspected across the city.
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has less staff to inspect those towers, despite having some of the tightest regulations for cooling towers in the country.
RELATED: Lawsuit blames Harlem Legionnaires' outbreak on construction companies
A News 12 investigation revealed a huge drop in cooling tower inspections over the past few years across the city.
The department did assure its staffing levels have not impacted its response to the outbreak in Harlem.
Nearly one month ago, the city confirmed the most recent cluster of cases in Central Harlem.
Twelve cooling towers tested positive, sending 109 people to the hospital.
The new information comes on the 10-year anniversary of the deadly outbreak that tore through the South Bronx, which prompted immediate action from the city.
News 12 also learned from the city's Independent Budget Office that more money was allocated to the environmental health unit but it could not confirm if that money is going toward inspections or preventing Legionnaires' at all.
News 12 was still waiting to hear back from the city about where the money is going as of Thursday evening.
