The Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City’s Upper east side has claimed a third life, according to health officials. This severe form of pneumonia is caused by inhaling Legionella bacteria which thrive in warm water environments.
The New York City Health Department reported that at least 74 cases have been identified, with eight individuals still hospitalized. The affected zip codes include 10028, 10075, and 10128, encompassing neighborhoods like Carnegie Hill and Yorkville.
Health Officials Express Condolences and Continue Investigations
Dr. Alister F. Martin New York City Health Commissioner, expressed deep sadness over the third fatality. “Our hearts are with their family and friends as they mourn their loss,” he stated. Health officials are advising anyone who has spent time in the affected areas to seek medical attention if they develop flu-like symptoms, which can appear up to 14 days after exposure.
The department believes the source of the bacteria has likely been eliminated, but they continue to inspect every cooling tower that tested positive. “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,” Dr. Martin emphasized.
Understanding Legionnaires’ Disease and Its Spread
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by inhaling the Legionella bacteria in small droplets of water mixed in the air or contaminated water accidentally going into the lungs. The bacteria are naturally found in freshwater but typically grow best in warm water environments, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The disease does not generally spread from person to person but can occur if the bacteria get into a building’s water supply, including shower heads, sink faucets, hot water tanks, heaters, cooling towers, and other plumbing systems. Although most people recover with antibiotics, certain patients, including those who are immunocompromised or suffer from chronic lung diseases, can develop complications that can be fatal.
Efforts to Contain the Outbreak
Upper East Side buildings, including the world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art and Guggenheim Museum have cleaned and disinfected their cooling towers, which are believed to be the source of the outbreak. The city ordered 76 buildings with cooling towers in the affected zip codes to undergo “aggressive remediation” and disinfect their systems on July 14.
Dr. Martin noted that while they continue to investigate cases and closely monitor those in the hospital, they have not identified anyone with new symptoms for more than a week. “We are not seeing any concerning trends in emergency department surveillance data,” he added.
The prevalence of Legionnaires’ disease has increased over the last decade, reaching a peak of 2.71 cases per 100,000 in 2018, according to the CDC. Cases dropped during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and then rebounded in 2026.
