Second Death Reported in NYC Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak
Health officials have confirmed a second death related to the cluster of Legionnaires’ disease on the Upper East Side. They noted a recent drop in new cases, indicating that the source of the outbreak may have been addressed.
New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alistair F. Martin expressed sorrow regarding the loss, stating, “We are heartbroken to learn that another New Yorker on the Upper East Side has lost his life to Legionnaires’ disease. Our deepest condolences go out to their grieving loved ones.”
This news comes just a day after health officials reported the first death linked to the outbreak in Manhattan.
At least 72 individuals have been infected, with over 50 requiring hospitalization due to this latest outbreak. As of Saturday evening, nine people remain hospitalized, according to officials.
The average daily cases reported from July 10 to July 17 were down to one, a marked reduction from earlier in July, when daily averages surpassed eight.
The affected individuals were mostly from the Upper East Side, particularly in the Carnegie Hill and Yorkville neighborhoods.
“While we mourn this loss, we are also encouraged by the data. Our aggressive strategy of testing, enforcement, and remediation appears to have stopped the source of the infection,” Martin remarked.
The disease, caused by Legionella bacteria found in 76 cooling towers in the Upper East Side and one in the Upper West Side, can lead to serious pneumonia, but is treatable with antibiotics if identified early.
City officials mandated that all buildings with positive test results must clean and disinfect their systems as part of the investigation, with all repairs completed by July 16.
Martin added, “We will continue to test all cooling towers that test positive and will hold owners accountable who do not comply with public health laws.”
This outbreak follows an uptick in citations—over 250 cooling towers across the city were flagged for Legionella-related issues last year, with more than half located in Manhattan. Last year also saw significant outbreak incidents in Harlem, where five people died and 114 fell ill.
