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Controversial South Bronx Homeless Shelter Infected with Legionella

By Eddie Small | August 11, 2015 3:42pm
 A controversial homeless shelter has been identified as another site infected with legionella, sources said.
A controversial homeless shelter has been identified as another site infected with legionella, sources said.
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DNAinfo/Eddie Small

MELROSE — Add a controversial homeless shelter in the South Bronx to the list of sites found to be infected with legionella.

Pyramid Safe Haven, located at 470 E. 161st St., tested positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease, bringing the total number of infected sites to 18, according to a city source who requested anonymity.

The shelter is located in the heart of the South Bronx and has been extremely contentious since it opened, with residents petitioning to have it moved and walking out of a city meeting about the shelter in protest.

Officials said on Tuesday that 12 people have died and 115 were infected with Legionnaires' disease, but no one has contracted the disease at the shelter, according to a source with knowledge of the building.