Lowey Urges CDC to Help Suburban Health Departments Fighting Legionnaire's Disease Cases

Congresswoman Nita Lowey sent a letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Tom Frieden, asking him to extend the CDC’s expertise on Legionnaire’s Disease to Rockland County.

Three cases have been reported in Rockland at the same time that an outbreak in the Bronx includes 100 cases, 10 of them fatal.

SEE: Rockland Officials Watching Local Legionnaires’ Disease Cases

She also asked the CDC to respond expeditiously to any requests for assistance from suburban health departments to ensure that the spread of Legionnaire’s disease is stemmed.

Since the letter was sent Aug. 10, the additional cases were reported, she said in a press statement—making clear a regional response is essential, she said.

Lowey, whose 17th District includes Rockland County and much of central and northwestern Westchester, is the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee.