The city Department of Health has identified a cluster of cases of Legionnaires' Disease in the Bronx and has discovered the possible cause.

The department held a meeting in Co-op City Tuesday night, where eight people have been diagnosed with the disease since last month.

One of those diagnosed was Brenda Hines' son.

"I was shocked, horrified, because he was in the ICU with it for over, at least nine days with it. So it was very, very scary," Brenda Hines said.

Hundreds came to the meeting to learn about the disease and what happened.

"I think it was Friday afternoon, we were contacted by Department of Health. We had them come out, we allowed them access, we cooperated fully," said Jeff Buss, general counsel for Co-op City. "They did tests. They came back and indicated that there was Legionella bacteria in this cooling tower."

The Department of Health ordered Co-op City officials to decontaminate the towers and shut them down. The cooling tower cools off the turbines that generate electricity for the complex.

"People don't drink that water," Buss said. "It isn't in their heating system, and in fact, even though there is Legionella bacteria in the cooling tower, it is not in the drinking water here

The Department of Health has not concluded that those who contracted Legionnaires' got it from the towers, which are separate structures from the 35 high rises.

However, many residents left the meeting still concerned, knowing that two people in Co-op City were diagnosed with Legionnaires' in the last couple of years.

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Bacteria Causing Legionnaires' Disease Found at Bronx Housing Complex

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January 14, 2015 at 11:42 pm by Mr HomeBuilder
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