18 THE QUEENS COURIER • OCTOBER 26, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
City investigating 12 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Flushing
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI AND
SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
Th e city’s Health Department continues
to investigate a Legionnaires’ disease
outbreak in downtown Flushing in
which a dozen people have fallen ill to the
bacteria over the last 14 days, the agency
announced on Oct. 24.
Samples from all cooling towers in the
area of the reported outbreak have been
taken and will be studied, Deputy Health
Commissioner Dr. Demetre Daskalakis
said at a press briefi ng later that same
day. In addition to the 12 cases that
have already been identifi ed, the Health
Department is currently investigating two
more cases. All 12 cases that have been
identifi ed have been in “residential environments,”
Daskalakis noted.
According to the Health Department,
the 12 patients in the “community cluster
of Legionnaires’ disease cases” range in
age from the 30s to the 80s; most have had
underlying health conditions which made
them particularly susceptible to infection.
Th e department identifi ed the cluster on
Oct. 23, the offi cial said.
Th e city agency is being intentionally
vague on where the outbreak is located
in an eff ort to make all residents in the
aff ected neighborhood hyper-vigilant for
symptoms of the disease, which include
fl u-like symptoms such as fever, cough,
chills and muscle aches, according to
Daskalakis. Th e disease is not passed person
to person.
Th e Health Department is also working
with Councilman Peter Koo to plan a
community town all in the area to answer
any questions residents may have and
address concerns.
“We want people in the area of Flushing
and in Queens to have a high-vigilance
for this; but we don’t want them to have a
false sense of security that if a block away
from the one they shouldn’t think of this,”
he said.
Five patients are currently hospitalized
and are expected to recover, while
seven others have been discharged from
hospitalization, the Health Department
indicated. Th e agency is also investigating
whether two other people exhibiting
symptoms of Legionnaire’s disease infection
actually have the illness.
Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett
said that the department is “in the process
of investigating the source of the cluster
and are working with building owners
in the area to rapidly test and clean cooling
towers.”
Legionnaire’s disease stems from exposure
to Legionella bacteria commonly
found in cooling towers and plumbing
systems within apartment buildings. Th e
bacteria thrive in warm, humid environments
such as cooling towers, whirlpool
spas, hot tubs, humidifi ers, hot water
tanks and air conditioning systems.
Th e Health Department says there are
between 200 and 400 Legionnaires’ disease
cases in New York City every year,
most of which are treated with antibiotics
for pneumonia. Two people in
Flushing contracted Legionnaires’ disease
earlier this year, the agency announced
in August. Th ere have since been other
reported Legionnaires’ cases in Howard
Beach and Rego Park; one man died from
the illness at the Parker Towers in Forest
Hills.
“I urge individuals in this area of
Flushing with respiratory symptoms
to seek medical attention right away,”
Bassett said. “People over the age of 50
and people with compromised immune
symptoms are especially at risk.”
Photo via Shutterstock
Legionella Pneumophila Bacteria
City announces plan to ease congestion on
major roadways in four Queens neighborhoods
BY ANGELA MATUA
amatua@qns.com / @AngelaMatua
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Oct.
22 that the city would undertake a number
of initiatives to ease traffi c congestion
in busy thoroughfares across the fi ve
boroughs.
As part of the fi ve-point plan, the city
will start a pilot program to test curb
access restriction starting in January 2018.
Th e commercial corridor on Roosevelt
Avenue from Broadway to 108th Street in
Jackson Heights and Corona was chosen
as one of three areas to participate.
For six months, curbside loading will
be banned on both sides of the street
on the pilot corridor during peak hours
from 7 a.m. through 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
through 7 p.m.
Passengers will still be able to be picked
up and dropped off in the area and deliveries
will be allowed in off -street loading
docks.
Th e corridor was chosen because it carries
high levels of traffi c and experiences
“signifi cant blockages by double parking
and delivery activity,” according to the
announcement. Th e NYPD will monitor
the locations to keep curbs clear.
Data will be collected on on traffi c congestion,
double parking, delivery activity
and curb regulation compliance before
and aft er the six-month pilot period.
Several commercial districts will also
be dubbed “clear zones” and the city will
make eff orts to redesign streets and make
signal timing changes to ease congestion.
In downtown Flushing, the
Department of Design and Construction
(DDC) will reconstruct Main Street and
expand sidewalks along the thoroughfare.
Th e Department of Transportation
(DOT) will also implement “Flushing in
Motion,” a signal system similar to one
that was installed in Midtown. Both projects
will be completed by the end of 2017.
DOT is currently working on a congestion
action plan for downtown Jamaica
in addition to a larger Jamaica transportation
study, which will be released in
2018. Th e plan will include recommendations
for street redesign, signal timing
changes, one-way street conversions
and curb regulation changes to reduce
congestion.
“With 8.5 million people, New York
City is experiencing both record population
and economic vitality; but our
success has put serious demands on our
already crowded street network,” de
Blasio said in a statement. “New Yorkers
have been telling me loud and clear about
the quality-of-life problems created by
traffi c where they live and work. With a
targeted eff ort to help clear travel lanes,
delivery zones, intersections and highways,
these initiatives will address these
concerns head-on, using established and
new tools that will keep our city moving,
from Midtown to all of our neighborhoods.”
Th e NYPD will also increase enforcement
on cars who “block the box” at 50
key intersections around the city. Th e
DOT will install special markings and
update signage to make drivers aware of
these restrictions while the NYPD will
hire 50 offi cers to enforce the rules.
Th e city will target 30 intersections
within Manhattan and 20 intersections in
the four remaining boroughs.
As part of its “Clear Highways” initiative,
state and local offi cials will take part
in task forces to ease congestion in highways
that our outside of the city’s jurisdiction.
It currently does not include any
Queens highway but Councilman Rory
Lancman is hoping that changes in the
months to come.
“Congestion is a serious problem, wasting
countless hours of New Yorkers’
lives and impeding our economy — and
not just in Manhattan,” Lancman said.
“I’m particularly glad to see that downtown
Jamaica in my district is included
in the mayor’s plan, and I look forward
to working with the administration
to unfreeze traffi c in this important
commercial district. I also hope we can
expand the ‘Clear Highways’ initiative
to include the Grand Central Parkway,
Van Wyck Expressway and Long Island
Expressway in the areas around Flushing
Meadows Corona Park.”
Several city agencies will work together
to coordinate the implementation of
this plan, including the DOT, NYPD, the
Taxi and Limousine Commission,, the
Economic Development Corporation,
DDC and the Department of Finance.
Photo via Mayor’s Offi ce
The city announced a plan to ease traffi c congestion
in several corridors.