More than 600 additional patients - mostly 9/11 rescue workers - registered at Mount Sinai's medical-monitoring program in January.
The number of patients enrolled at Mount Sinai's World Trade Center health clinic skyrocketed 50 percent last month following the publicity surrounding the death of retired cop Cesar Borja, The Post has learned.
More than 600 additional patients - mostly 9/11 rescue workers - registered at Mount Sinai's medical-monitoring program in January claiming they've become ill from breathing toxic air and dust at Ground Zero.
In the prior two months, about 400 new patients applied for monitoring.
The dramatic surge occurred around the time of Borja's death on the day President Bush's State of the Union Address.
Bush was so moved by Borja's death that he agreed to meet with Borja's son Ceasar last week, and announced $25 million in the federal budget to help screen and treat sick 9/11 responders.
Borja's death of lung disease - believe to be linked to Ground Zero exposure over three months - "increased awareness" about 9/11 health concerns and spurred a new wave of patients, said Mount Sinai spokesman Leslie Schwartz.
Republished with permission of The New York Post.
