Fox News Flash top headlines for November 14
Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.
Five people died of Legionnaires' disease over the summer at a New York City nursing home that had been cited repeatedly for improper maintenance of the cooling towers where the Legionella bacteria can spread, The New York Times reported.
The outbreak at Amsterdam Nursing Home, a 409-bed facility in upper Manhattan, was the city's worst since 2015 when a cooling tower in the Bronx was blamed for an infection that caused 16 deaths.
The home has restricted water use since the outbreak that ended in September, spokesperson Jeff Jacomowitz said. "All further tests have been coming back negative, and the facility has provided bottled water for drinking and for all sanitary uses."
MANHATTAN DA CLOSES PROBE INTO NURSING HOME DEATHS WITHOUT CHARGING CUOMO: ATTORNEY
People can get Legionnaires’ disease when they breathe in water vapor containing the Legionella bacteria, which grows in wet environments including hot tubs, fountains and cooling towers. Deaths attributed to Legionnaires' are rare, but the risk is higher for older populations such as nursing home residents.
The failure of a cooling tower in the NYC nursing home allegedly allowed the disease to survive easier, leading to the outbreak that killed five patients.
Following the 2015 outbreak in the Bronx, New York City passed strict rules for maintaining cooling towers that include requiring building managers to register the towers with the city and submit to regular testing.
A review by the Times found that Amsterdam Nursing Home was cited seven times in the past six years for rules violations ranging from not conducting routine maintenance to using inadequate start-up procedures for the towers. One infraction resulted in a $500 fine related to record keeping for water sample analysis, while the other six were dismissed after hearings.
Dozens of other nursing home in the city have also been cited for violating cooling tower regulations. The Times found that 43 nursing homes have been fined a total of $164,000 since 2015 and they have paid about $120,000 of that amount.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Jacomowitz said Amsterdam Nursing Home's cooling tower was cleaned prior to start-up in the spring and tested according to the city's rules. He said the facility "continues to work closely with the Department of Health on anything having to do with the water supply and with anything at all to clear up this matter."
The exact source of the outbreak has not been determined, Jacomowitz said.
True Crime
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
