Key Takeaway:
- Six people have died, and 90 cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been confirmed in New York City’s Upper East Side Legionnaires outbreak.
- Health officials say the likely source has been eliminated after contaminated cooling towers were cleaned and disinfected.
- The investigation remains active, with additional test results pending while officials continue monitoring the affected area.
A sixth person has died in New York City’s Upper East Side Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, health officials said Tuesday, as confirmed cases in the East Side Legionnaires outbreak rose to 90 while investigators reported the likely source of the bacteria has been eliminated.
Health officials confirm sixth death and 90 total cases
A sixth person has died from the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak affecting New York City’s Upper East Side, the New York City Health Department said Tuesday. Officials have confirmed 90 cases since the East Side Legionnaires outbreak was first identified in the neighborhoods of Carnegie Hill and Yorkville.
Six patients remain hospitalized, while 65 people have been discharged after receiving treatment. Health officials continue to monitor patients and investigate the community cluster centered in ZIP codes 10028, 10128 and 10075.
“We are confident the source of the Legionella bacteria has been eliminated,” the New York City Health Department said in an update Tuesday.
Investigators clean and disinfect contaminated cooling towers
The Health Department said investigators tested 83 cooling towers at 160 buildings as part of the response to the East Side Legionnaires outbreak.
Initial polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, testing detected Legionella bacteria in 77 cooling towers across 75 buildings. Follow-up culture testing confirmed live Legionella bacteria in 59 cooling towers at 58 buildings.
Officials said all cooling towers that tested culture positive have been cleaned and disinfected. They added that 106 cooling towers have tested culture negative, while results from additional testing remain pending.
The department said remediation efforts in the East Side Legionnaires outbreak focused on eliminating potential sources of exposure and reducing the risk of further infections.
Officials continue monitoring as response efforts progress
Health officials said the investigation remains active despite their confidence that the source has been removed. Environmental testing and follow-up monitoring continue while remaining laboratory results are processed.
The Health Department urged residents and health care providers to remain alert for symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, particularly among older adults and people with underlying health conditions, who face a higher risk of severe illness.
Officials said rapid diagnosis and treatment remain important for patients who develop symptoms consistent with the disease.
The department also said it will continue providing updates on the East Side Legionnaires outbreak as additional testing is completed and investigators confirm the effectiveness of remediation efforts.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which can grow in building water systems and spread through contaminated water droplets. It is not spread from person to person.
Health officials said the investigation and public health response will continue until all pending test results have been reviewed and officials determine there is no ongoing risk to the community, with continuously updated case data and guidance available on the NYC Health Department’s official Legionnaires’ disease page.
