The Brielle at Seaview, a senior living facility in Staten Island, N.Y., recently tested its water supply and found the presence of Legionella bacteria, which incites a form of pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease. The facility subsequently shut down the community's showers to protect residents from infection, according to silive.com.
The City of New York Health Department identified a case of Legionnaires' in a resident of the senior living community in November 2016, spurring the facility to test the water at sites across the community's campus.
"In coordination with the City of New York Health Department, The Brielle at Seaview on Staten Island has conducted extensive testing for Legionnaire's bacteria. Approximately 38 sites in the community were tested and a small percentage showed low levels of the disease; the rest were disease-free," said the facility in a statement, according to silive.com.
The statement went on to say ongoing testing of the facility's water supply will continue for the next five months.
The facility is waiting for the green light from the health department before residents begin taking showers in their own quarters. Currently, residents are relying on sponge baths, body-cleansing wipes and showers at a recreational facility on campus that has yet to officially open. It is unclear when the shower prohibition will be lifted.
To learn more about Legionnaires', click here.
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