Inspection rates for Legionnaires' disease reached neu abysmal low prior to NYC outbreak.
In a surprising turn of events, the number of violations issued by New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) for Legionella bacteria in cooling towers is set to hit an all-time low this year, with only 269 violations issued as of April.
The decline in inspections and violations is not limited to 2020 and 2021, when the pandemic disrupted city services. In fact, the DOHMH has been conducting between 22% and 30% fewer inspections and issuing fewer violations each year since 2017.
The department rebounded to 4,400 inspections in 2022, but has since decreased its inspections again. As of June 2023, the department is on track to complete less than half that number of inspections, with only 1,167 inspections conducted.
The specific agency responsible for monitoring Legionella bacteria in cooling towers in New York City is typically a function of the NYC DOHMH. However, the exact department responsible within the NYC DOHMH may vary, as general oversight often involves collaboration with environmental and health inspectors.
The decline in inspections is attributed to a staffing shortage at the city's DOHMH. Despite this, the department continues to have the authority to test water in cooling towers and issue violations.
Building owners in New York City are required by law to test for Legionella bacteria every three months, a law enacted after a previous outbreak a decade ago. This requirement remains in effect, even in the face of the decline in inspections by the DOHMH.
The decline in inspections comes at a concerning time, as an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in East Harlem has resulted in three fatalities. A previous outbreak in New York City sickened 138 people and resulted in 16 deaths.
The record low in inspections and violations is puzzling, given that the number of Legionella bacteria inspections in New York City's cooling towers reached a record low post-pandemic. The health department's data shows a record low in inspections, not counting 2020 and 2021.
The city law requiring building owners to test for Legionella bacteria was enacted after a previous outbreak a decade ago. The city's DOHMH continues to have the authority to test water in cooling towers and issue violations, despite the decline in inspections. It remains to be seen how this decline in inspections will impact the city's efforts to prevent and control Legionnaires' disease outbreaks.
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