The union representing the city’s public health professionals and scientists says that units dedicated to testing the city’s water supply are critically understaffed — complicating New York’s ability to control a Legionnaires’ outbreak that has so far killed three people and spread to the air conditioning cooling towers of at least 76 Manhattan buildings.
Members of Local 3005 blame the staff shortages on low salaries and burnout that make it difficult to recruit and retain specialists, such as water ecologists, who respond to positive tests for harmful bacteria including Legionella, which causes Legionnaire’s disease. The local represents 1,300 scientists and specialists across the city health department and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The current vacancy rate at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is 8.53%, which is higher than the overall rate of 5.79% across all city agencies, according to data from the city comptroller’s office. Four positions currently open on the health department’s jobs portal list salary ranges from $52,800 to $70,700 for “experienced” water ecologists. The health department did not immediately respond to a request for comment…