Two city buildings, including Harlem Hospital, were the sources of the deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that has killed seven people, health officials revealed Friday.
A strain of the pneumonia-like illness found in seven of the more than 100 patients was matched to Legionella bacteria from cooling towers atop the hospital and a construction site at 40 West 137th Street, where the city’s public health laboratory is located, officials said.
When asked if the city would take any responsibility for the outbreak, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro deflected.
“We aim to prevent any spread of Legionnaires’ from occurring, that has always been our aim,” he told reporters. “Obviously, there was a spread that occurred here and we are going to take the steps necessary to make reforms.”…