Bronx cooling tower cluster includes Yankee Stadium, 10 sites test positive

A cooling tower at Yankee Stadium is among 10 towers in the South Bronx that tested positive for Legionella bacteria as city health officials investigate an outbreak that has killed one person.

The New York City Department of Health said Sunday that all cooling towers that tested positive have been ordered cleaned and disinfected by Monday.

Officials said PCR testing can detect the presence of Legionella but cannot show whether the bacteria are alive or confirm a cooling tower as the source of exposure. They reiterated that only live Legionella can cause illness.

One person has died in connection with the outbreak, and five cases have been confirmed, according to officials.

Yankee Stadium released a statement Sunday night saying the tower tested positive for trace amounts of Legionella during a Sept. 11 PCR test conducted by the Health Department. The stadium said no current cases have been associated with the building.

In accordance with New York City Department of Health regulations, Yankee Stadium provides these results to the NYC DOH on a monthly basis. In the most recent monthly testing on Aug. 20, which was provided to the Department of Health, results were negative for Legionella bacteria.

Officials urged anyone who lives, works or has visited the affected area since late August and develops flu-like symptoms to contact a health care provider immediately. They said it is safe to shower, drink tap water and use air conditioners in the affected ZIP codes and noted there is no additional risk from being inside any of the 10 buildings.

A town hall with public health officials is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Metropolitan College in the Bronx.

The Health Department is conducting culture testing to determine whether live Legionella bacteria were present when the samples were collected. Culture results can take up to two weeks, according to the stadium’s statement.