City Council passes Legionnaires' legislation

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York City Council has unanimously passed new measures to combat the spread of Legionnaires' Disease.

The council voted 42-0, along with some abstentions, on Thursday to pass a bill that require inspections and cleanings of cooling towers.

Cooling towers in the Bronx are believed to have housed legionella bacteria that led to the largest outbreak of the disease in New York City history.

Twelve people have died and there have been 121 cases of the disease, which is a type of pneumonia. The elderly and those are with underlying health woes are particularly vulnerable to it.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and city health officials have said that the outbreak "has been contained." There had not been a new case since August 3rd.

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