Press Releases at EMSL

Health officials are investigating a large increase in the number of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) cases in the Bronx. In 2014, this borough of New York City had an incidence rate of 4.3 per 100,000 residents compared to the 2014 city-wide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 cases according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Health officials recommend that hospitals or nursing homes test for Legionella whenever there is case of community acquired pneumonia.  This testing is required if a patient is diagnosed with LD after being admitted to a hospital or nursing home.

According to the New York State Department of Health, clinical and environmental testing should be able to discriminate between Legionella pneumophila serotype 1 (Lp1) and other species/serotypes of Legionella bacteria. New York City has had past cases of LD caused by non-Lp1 species and serotypes.

EMSL Analytical, Inc. can identify which types of Legionella bacteria are present in environmental samples. Samples can be sent to EMSL’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) certified Legionella laboratories located in New York, NY, Cinnaminson, NJ, Indianapolis, IN, Houston, TX, South Pasadena, CA, San Leandro, CA and Toronto, ON.

For questions on how and where to sample, please go to www.legionellatesting.com or contact Diane Miskowski, MPH, EMSL’s Legionella Program Manager, at 1-800-220-3675 extension 2528.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental, industrial hygiene, food and materials testing services and products to government agencies, industry professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.