First Death Reported in Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak on Upper East Side

Health officials announced on Friday the first fatality connected to the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the Upper East Side, indicating that the situation continues to escalate.

“It’s with a heavy heart that I report one individual has died due to the ongoing cluster of Legionnaires’ disease,” said Dr. Alister F. Martin, New York City’s Health Commissioner. “I extend my sincerest condolences to the family and, out of respect for their privacy, we won’t be disclosing any further details about the deceased.”

As of Thursday night, there are now 67 reported cases in the city. This marks an increase from the previous count of 63. Currently, 12 individuals remain hospitalized due to the outbreak, according to officials.

This summer has seen over 50 people hospitalized from the disease, which can be traced back to the cluster affecting Carnegie Hill and Yorkville neighborhoods.

The illness arises from Legionella bacteria, which has been detected in 76 cooling towers across neighborhoods in the Upper East Side, as well as one on the Upper West Side. It causes a severe form of pneumonia, but antibiotics can effectively treat it if diagnosed early.

Officials have mandated cleaning and disinfection of all 76 towers that tested positive for the bacteria. Some prominent locations, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and several high-end schools in the area, are among those affected.

This year’s outbreak follows the identification of more than 250 cooling towers in New York City that had reported issues related to Legionella testing over the past year, with a significant number located in Manhattan.

In the previous year, Harlem experienced an outbreak that tragically resulted in five deaths and 114 illnesses. This was the deadliest outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the city in over ten years.