Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak in Upper East Side, NYC

UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan — New York City health officials have confirmed 36 cases of Legionnaires’ disease linked to an outbreak in the Upper East Side. They are currently working to pinpoint the source of the issue.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city will soon publish the specific addresses of buildings where legionella bacteria has been found in cooling towers.

Among the confirmed cases, 22 individuals are hospitalized. These cases span three Upper East Side ZIP codes, covering the neighborhoods of Carnegie Hill, Yorkville, and Lenox Hill.

This serious type of pneumonia is typically contracted through inhaling contaminated water droplets. Health officials suspect the bacteria is spreading from cooling tower mists.

“It’s crucial to note that the risk is stemming from outside these buildings, not from their internal systems,” said Dr. Darien Sutton, an ABC News correspondent.

Testing of cooling towers in the area is expected to wrap up by the end of the day Wednesday, with a list of affected towers set to be released later this week.

“We will be disclosing the addresses of impacted sites because we believe transparency is vital for New Yorkers to go about their daily lives,” Mamdani stated.

Further testing will be needed to identify the precise source of the outbreak, and officials warn this process might take a few weeks.

Health authorities clarified that this outbreak isn’t connected to the plumbing systems of buildings; residents in the affected areas can safely consume tap water, shower, cook, and use air conditioning.

The disease cannot be transmitted from person to person, and most healthy individuals remain unaffected. However, about 10% of those infected face a heightened risk of death, particularly the elderly, smokers, and individuals with existing health concerns.

Last summer, a Legionnaires’ outbreak in Harlem resulted in seven fatalities and over 100 infections.

According to Sutton, “Legionella symptoms can mimic typical pneumonia, featuring a fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur.”

Health officials are urging anyone with flu-like or pneumonia-like symptoms to seek medical care. They also anticipate that the number of confirmed Legionnaires’ cases will likely continue to increase as testing and investigations progress.