New York City saw a significant drop in Legionnaires' inspections prior to the outbreak, nearing a record low.
Decline in Legionella Bacteria Inspections Raises Concerns in New York City
New York City's mandatory Legionella bacteria testing for building owners, enacted following a previous outbreak, has shown a concerning trend of declining inspections and violations. According to data from the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH), the number of inspections reached a record low post-pandemic, and the number of violations is set to hit an all-time low this year.
Despite the three-month testing requirement, a recent outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in East Harlem resulted in three fatalities. This outbreak occurred despite the mandatory testing, raising questions about the effectiveness of the city's prevention measures.
The decline in inspections and violations is attributed to a staffing shortage at the NYC DOHMH. In 2017, the agency inspected 5,200 cooling towers and issued over 48,000 violations to building owners. However, 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 agency rebounded to 4,400 inspections in 2022 but has since returned to a lower level of enforcement.
Year after year, there has been a decline in enforcement, with the agency conducting between 22% and 30% fewer inspections and issuing fewer violations each year since 2017. This trend continues despite the city law requiring Legionella bacteria testing, which was enacted as a response to a previous outbreak that sickened 138 people and resulted in 16 deaths.
The NYC DOHMH has the authority to test water in cooling towers and issue violations. The department is responsible for enforcing the Legionella bacteria testing and prevention measures. However, they have not disclosed any specific violations or non-compliance issues related to the recent outbreak in East Harlem.
The current low levels of inspections and violations are not solely attributable to the pandemic. While the pandemic disrupted city services in 2020 and 2021, the trend of declining inspections and violations has continued even after the pandemic disruptions.
This decline in enforcement may raise concerns about the effectiveness of the city's Legionella bacteria prevention measures. It is crucial for the NYC DOHMH to ensure regular inspections and compliance with the city law to prevent further outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease.
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