UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Residents at The Cherokee, a Yorkville co-op building complex, have been adjusting their daily routines amid a recently confirmed Legionella bacteria outbreak in the building’s water system that sickened two people.
Charles Karcher, a tenant at one of the four buildings in the complex, told Patch he was taking precautions such as showering at the gym and keeping bathroom windows open at home, despite the frigid temps, to reduce steam inhalation.
The Cherokee has 384 apartments, per StreetEasy, and is located between East 77th Street and East 78th Street, between York Avenue and Cherokee Place. All four buildings share the same water system, Karcher said.
“When this all started, I put some N95 masks in a community space for people to grab, because wearing them when you’re in the shower is effective in preventing contraction of disease,” the Upper East Sider told Patch. “The masks that I put down in the common area vanished in about 24 hours. There was a high demand for them.”
Legionnaires’ disease, a type of pneumonia, is caused by Legionella bacteria that thrive in warm water environments, like plumbing systems. The disease — which killed seven people over the summer in Harlem — spreads by inhaling contaminated vapor, but is not contagious from person-to-person, officials said.
The health department’s investigation into the Yorkville building began on Jan. 21 after a second case of Legionnaires’ disease was reported in the same apartment building within 12 months, which automatically triggers a Health Department investigation, officials said. The building’s water system tested positive for Legionella on Monday.
Though the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said drinking water is not considered a risk for residents, inhaling water droplets or steam can expose people to Legionnaires’ disease, particularly for sensitive groups like immunocompromised people, older adults and people with respiratory issues or with a history of smoking or vaping. Legionnaires’ disease can be fatal, but it is treatable with antibiotics, the health department said.
“I’m not too worried for myself,” Karcher said, “but I worry about my neighbors, many of whom are older.”
The department said that, to mitigate risk, residents should avoid showers to limit exposure to water mist, instead bathing with a tub, bucket, or low-flow hose filled slowly.
Handwashing and drinking cold tap water are fine, but water should run slowly, and cold water should be used first when heating water for cooking or beverages, the department said.
“As part of our evaluation, we worked with building management to promptly test the buildings’ water system, and the test results have confirmed the presence of Legionella bacteria,” an NYC Health Department spokesperson said.
“The risk of getting sick from a building’s water system is very low, especially for healthy people, but those who are in high-risk groups are recommended to limit exposure to water mist while this work is underway.”
Karcher said some of his neighbors have considered requesting rent abatements due to safety concerns, but that since it’s a co-op building with both owners and renters, it makes getting organized complicated.
According to the health department, the building is bringing in a water safety company to fix issues in the water system and reduce any immediate risk. After the work is done, the water will be tested again to make sure the treatment worked.
Building management did not respond to Patch’s request for comment.
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