Pastor Al Sharpton recently claimed that untreated rainwater in a cooling tower at Harlem Hospital contributed to the deadliest Legionnaires’ disease outbreak New York has seen in a decade.
He plans to join civil rights attorney Ben Crump in announcing a lawsuit against the construction company involved in a project in Harlem.
“People should be able to trust our hospitals and public spaces,” Sharpton stated, expressing disappointment over the incident.
Following a major storm in July, the cooling tower at Harlem Hospital accumulated unchecked rainwater, which Sharpton and Crump argue led to the spread of harmful bacteria among workers there.
There are concerns that city inspections missed critical red flags regarding the cooling towers, including those at Harlem Hospital. Four of the twelve tested positive for Legionella bacteria, with two located near each other on West 137th Avenue.
Under state and local regulations, building owners must test for Legionnaires-causing bacteria every 90 days to prevent such outbreaks.
The City Health Department typically inspects cooling towers annually to ensure they are sanitized and to confirm that regular testing occurs.
Records indicate that the Urban Health Clinic in Central Harlem has faced multiple violations since 2017 for its cooling tower inspections, though there’s no clear record of Legionella tests for the facility.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health noted a new tower was put in place in June, but recent testing indicated activity of the bacteria in July 2025.
Daniel McKeithan, a chef affected by the outbreak, shared that he began feeling ill at a family gathering in June, initially attributing his symptoms to the flu. By June 23, he was at Harlem Hospital receiving treatment and expressed concern over the cooling tower’s contamination.
“It’s alarming that I was treated in a place with known issues,” he remarked, questioning the accountability of government facilities.
Attorney Jolie Lange, representing 44 patients linked to the outbreak, noted ongoing legal actions against the hospital for its negligence.
McKeithan’s attorney highlighted that government-owned buildings showed alarming deficiencies in their maintenance of water systems, contributing to the situation.
Residents like Robert, who works nearby, criticized city authorities for their lack of responsibility, while others, like Toya M., suspected systemic neglect toward their community.
In response to the situation, Mayor Eric Adams defended the city’s health department, suggesting that the bacteria can emerge even after negative tests.
– Additional reports by Craig McCarthy and Vaughn Golden
