STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 New York City\u2019s Health Department said Wednesday that neighbors of a building with a pair of confirmed Legionnaires\u2019 Disease cases shouldn\u2019t be concerned.<\/p>\n
However, officials stopped short of saying whether other Staten Island apartment buildings will be evaluated for the harmful bacteria.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for department said there is \u201cno risk\u201d to the surrounding community after the city found Legionella bacteria last month in the Castleton Park Apartments in St. George following two confirmed cases of Legionnaires\u2019 Disease at the complex.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe are evaluating the hot water system at an apartment complex in Staten Island after two residents were diagnosed with Legionnaires\u2019 disease,\u201d the spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement. \u201cWhile Legionella bacteria has been confirmed, it is important to note that there is no risk to the surrounding community.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is okay to drink the building\u2019s tap water, but Castleton Park Apartments residents should follow the Health Department\u2019s recommendations for safe water use. Remediation is underway and the Health Department will continue to provide residents with updates and guidance,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n The department is currently conducting a building evaluation focused on the apartment complex\u2019s internal hot water system.<\/p>\n A Health Department spokesperson would not say whether other Staten Island buildings would be tested, but noted that the city is only performing a building evaluation, not a community cluster investigation.<\/p>\n Despite the lack of a community cluster investigation, officials reiterated that there is no indication of risk to the surrounding community.<\/p>\n The agency first notified residents of the building Sept. 28 of the positive Legionella test, but that information didn\u2019t come to the general public\u2019s attention until Tuesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n There have been no other cases or positive tests on Staten Island reported by the city apart from the Castleton Park Apartments building at 185 St. Marks Place.<\/p>\n Following news of the Staten Island Legionnaires\u2019 cases, Borough President Vito Fossella called on the city to take immediate preventative measures<\/a>, including cleaning the building\u2019s water system, saying delays could put additional residents at risk.<\/p>\n \u201cTo prolong this essential measure may needlessly risk more people getting sick,\u201d Fossella said.<\/p>\n About Legionnaires\u2019 disease<\/p>\n Legionnaires\u2019 disease is caused by breathing in small droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria and is not generally spread from person to person. Most people exposed to the bacteria do not become sick.<\/p>\n