NYCHA reveals test results from housing complex at risk of Legionnaires exposure

Legionnaires is a type of pneumonia that is caused by bacteria that can be found in freshwater environments, like your building’s plumbing system, hot water tanks and hot tubs.

News 12 Staff

Feb 22, 2024, 1:39 AM

Updated 290 days ago

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The New York City Housing Authority has revealed that one of the buildings at the Langston Hughes Houses has tested positive for Legionnaires disease in the water.
This comes after two cases of Legionnaires disease were confirmed in the Brownsville housing complex. The tenants attended a meeting on Jan. 31 with NYCHA and Department of Health officials, who confirmed that tests would be run.
Legionnaires is a type of pneumonia that is caused by bacteria that can be found in freshwater environments, like your building’s plumbing system, hot water tanks and hot tubs. It spreads through mists that can come from air conditioning units in large buildings.
The Health Department says the risk from getting sick from a building’s water supply is low, and NYCHA says they “will continue its remediation efforts and do everything we can to communicate with residents about the work being done to ensure that the hot water supply has been successfully treated and disinfected."