Outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at New York hospital

After four patients contracted Legionnaires' disease at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, the state Health Department says appropriate steps have been taken to safeguard patients and staff from an outbreak of the disease.

In the last two months four patients have contracted the disease at the hospital, and two of the patients have already died, though their cause of death has not as yet been definitely ascertained.

The state Health Department is investigating the incidents and according to spokeswoman Claire Pospisil the cause of death in either of the cases cannot be confirmed.

Pospisil says three cases were reported at the hospital in March and one in April, and she says and they will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Legionnaires' disease, first identified in 1976 in Philadelphia at a convention of American Legion members, which gave the disease its name, causes pneumonia-like symptoms and although it can be fatal, medical experts say it is treatable.

The Manhattan hospital has confirmed that Legionella bacteria have been found in the water supply of its Milstein Hospital Building but say no other buildings at the center are affected.

A hospital spokeswoman says no other confirmed or suspected cases have been reported, but points out that all four patients had existing serious medical aliments when they arrived at the hospital that may have weakened their immune systems.

The hospital has not released the names of the four patients or any additional details, but it has been reported that the family of one patient, Richard Montesano, 63, of Westchester County, who died last week after entering the hospital last month for a lifesaving heart procedure, are blaming the hospital for his death and is threatening litigation. The Montesano family could not be reached for comment.