Bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease detected in Supreme Court building in Riverhead

A cooling tower on the roof of the Suffolk County Supreme Court building on Griffing Avenue in Riverhead tested positive for Legionella bacteria on Monday — the same pathogen that is the culprit behind the current Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

However, the Suffolk County Health Department urged the public to not panic. The cooling tower underwent an “online disinfection” on Tuesday and will be retested within three to seven days, according to a statement shared by county health officials.

During routine state testing, the bacteria was detected in an affected cooling tower that is part of a closed loop system on the roof of the Supreme Court building. It is used only to cool the refrigerant and at no time impacted the air circulation of the building, officials said

“Out of an abundance of caution, all outside air intake dampers have been shut down we are notifying staff of this test result,” county officials stated.

The Riverhead News-Review reached out to the Suffolk County Health Department on Friday for further comment and updates on the retesting.

Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaires’ disease, grows in warm-water systems such as cooling towers, hot tubs, hot water tanks and neglected decorative fountains.

Human infections happens when a person inhales water mist containing the bacteria. Symptoms of the specific, severe type of pneumonia include cough, shortness of breath, high fever, muscle aches and headaches. The disease does not spread from person to person.

New York City officials announced on Friday the clustered outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease plaguing Upper East Side neighborhoods in New York City has ceased, with seven total deaths and 92 people testing positive in the last month.

With no case diagnoses after July 21, city health officials are “confident the source of the Legionella bacteria has been eliminated.”

Officials said Suffolk County continues to follow all state protocols and will keep staff informed as additional information becomes available. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

For more information on Legionnaires’ disease, visit www.health.ny.gov.