The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that a long-awaited federal study examining reusable healthcare textiles has reached the final stages of internal review, marking a significant development for the linen, uniform and facility services industry.

The CDC’s July 10 response to congressional offices confirms that the agency has completed a draft report and that it is currently undergoing final internal review and clearance. Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) said commercial laundries supported hospitals and healthcare systems during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing reusable isolation gowns, linens, and other essential healthcare textiles when disposable products became scarce.

TRSA emphasized the critical role reusable healthcare textiles play in protecting healthcare workers, strengthening domestic supply chains, and supporting emergency preparedness. A key priority for the association is securing the release of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study examining the feasibility and benefits of expanding reusable textiles in healthcare settings.

“The CDC’s confirmation that this study is nearing completion is an important milestone,” said Joe Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “We appreciate Congress’ continued oversight and look forward to reviewing the findings, which could help strengthen healthcare preparedness and supply-chain resilience.”

The CDC previously indicated the report would be completed in 2024. Industry representatives stressed that healthcare facilities remain heavily dependent on disposable products despite evidence that reusable alternatives can provide equivalent protection while enhancing supply-chain resilience and reducing environmental impacts.

In February 2026, lawmakers formally requested the release of the completed study, sought a timeline for publication, and asked for briefings on findings emerging from the National Academies Workshop on reusable healthcare textiles.

While the CDC stopped short of providing a publication date, the agency indicated that an updated release timeline will be provided once the clearance process is finalized.

The New York City Health Department has reported that three people have died in connection with the Legionnaires’ disease community cluster on the Upper East Side as of July 19.

At the same time, NYC health department data continues to show a sustained decline in newly diagnosed cases, indicating that the source of exposure to Legionella bacteria has likely been eliminated.

As of July 19, the health department has identified 74 cases of Legionnaires’ disease associated with the cluster. Nine people remain hospitalized, 50 have been discharged from the hospital, and three people have died. From July 10 through July 17, the health department confirmed an average of fewer than one new case per day. During the first week of the investigation, from July 2 through July 8, the health department confirmed an average of more than eight new cases per day. These figures may change as new cases are investigated and confirmed.

“Our aggressive strategy of testing, enforcement, and remediation appears to have stopped the source of exposure,” said Dr. Alister F. Martin, NYC health commissioner.  We directed every building with an initial positive test result to immediately clean and disinfect its cooling tower, and everyone has completed that work. We have also reminded cooling tower operators across the city of their summertime requirement to increase use of biocides that kill Legionella bacteria. We will continue inspecting every cooling tower that tested positive and will hold accountable any owner who fails to comply with our public health laws.”

Case investigations also show a sharp decline in illnesses beginning after July 8. People whose cases have only recently been confirmed began experiencing symptoms more than a week ago, indicating that there has not been recent exposure. The health department is also not seeing concerning trends in hospital emergency department data, which can identify potential cases before they are formally diagnosed.

On July 14, the health department ordered 76 buildings with cooling towers that returned positive initial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening results to clean and disinfect their systems as part of the Upper East Side investigation. By July 16, all 76 confirmed they completed the required remediation.

As CMM previously reported, this was the first time NYC has taken this approach. In previous community cluster investigations, buildings with positive PCR results were initially required to boost chemical disinfectant levels while awaiting confirmatory culture testing, a process that can take up to two weeks. Full cleaning and disinfection was generally required only after a positive culture result.

In total, the health department collected samples from 183 cooling tower systems across the affected area and has completed all initial PCR screening tests for Legionella bacteria. No PCR test results are outstanding.

NYC has some of the nation’s strongest laws governing cooling tower maintenance and Legionella prevention. Building owners are required to properly maintain cooling towers and regularly monitor them for bacterial growth, and the health department enforces those requirements.

To promote compliance, the health department aims to inspect every registered cooling tower each year. During the first six months of 2026, inspectors completed nearly 1,600 cooling tower inspections, a 35% increase over the same period in 2025.

When inspectors identify violations, the health department issues summonses and may impose financial penalties. In Fiscal Year 2025, the health department collected approximately US$680,000 in cooling tower-related fines and issued 1,337 violations, including:

• 253 public health hazards
• 810 critical violations
• 274 general violations

In May, health department regulations took effect requiring cooling tower operators to test for Legionella every 31 days while systems are operating—three times more frequently than previously required. Operators must submit testing information to the health department after each test.

Although the requirement has been in place for two months, compliance has been strong. Citywide, 77% of operators have already submitted the required testing information. Some cooling towers that have not yet reported may not currently be operating or may not yet have started seasonal operations. Compliance is verified during annual inspections, and failure to comply may result in enforcement action and fines.