Deadly NYC Legionnaires’ Outbreak Expands; Tap Water Safe, Officials Say

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY— Five New Yorkers have died after an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease spread across parts of the Upper East Side.

Health officials have identified 84 confirmed cases.

Seven people remain hospitalized, 59 have been discharged, 13 were not hospitalized and five have died, according to preliminary city data.

The City reported the outbreak appears to be contained, with no new cases reported for a week as of the latest update.

The disease is caused by Legionella bacteria, which can grow in warm water systems and spread when people inhale contaminated water droplets from the air.

It does not spread from person to person.

"It is not possible," Dr. Chirag Shah, director of thoracic oncology at Northwell's Lenox Hill Hospital, told Patch about human-to-human transmission.

The bacteria are not spread by drinking tap water, bathing or using household plumbing.

"Will my building's water supply get me sick— it will not," Shah said.

The Health Department reported residents in the affected ZIP codes can continue to drink tap water, shower, bathe, cook and use air conditioning at home.

Should Residents Be Worried If They Live Nearby?

Shah said risk depends largely on a person's health, not simply their location.

Older adults, people with lung or heart disease and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of serious illness if they become infected, he said.

Millions of people live, work and travel through affected neighborhoods, but only a small number have become sick.

"For those folks wearing a mask outside is reasonable," Shah said. "Still, remember that millions of people live and travel through these areas and relatively few people have become ill."

How Many Cooling Towers Tested Positive?

The Health Department has tested 183 cooling towers at 160 buildings in the affected area.

Officials found:

• 77 cooling towers at 75 buildings tested positive for Legionella bacteria through initial PCR testing.
• 51 cooling towers at 50 buildings tested positive through culture testing, which confirms live bacteria.
• All buildings with culture-positive results have been cleaned and disinfected.

As of Thursday, health officials have identified 17 additional cooling towers that tested positive for Legionella bacteria, including:

• 1150 Madison Avenue
• 1239 Madison Avenue
• 1275 Madison Avenue
• 920 Park Avenue
• 1755 York Avenue
• 1875 Second Avenue
• 980 Fifth Avenue
• 1130 Fifth Avenue
• 201 E 79th Street
• 160 E 84th Street
• 401 E 86th Street
• 444 E 86th Street
• 445 E 86th Street
• 51 E 87th Street
• 401 E 88th Street
• 9 E 90th Street
• 40 E 94th Street

See the previous list of the 34 cooling towers that tested positive for live Legionella bacteria here.

Can People Recover Without Long-Term Effects?

Most people who recover from Legionnaires’ disease do not experience lasting health problems.

Severe complications are more common among people who already have significant underlying health conditions.

"Severe after effects are typically in patients who have significant baseline health issues," Shah said.

What Symptoms Should People Watch For?

Legionnaires’ disease can look like the flu at first.

Symptoms may include:

• Fever.
• Cough.
• Chills.
• Muscle aches.
• Shortness of breath.

People usually develop symptoms two to 14 days after exposure, Shah said.

He said worsening symptoms, especially difficulty breathing, should prompt medical attention.

"Shortness of breath is a concerning symptom and this is a reason why many people would seek out medical support," he said.

People who live, work or recently visited the affected area and develop flu-like symptoms should contact a health care provider.

Shah said people should consider testing when symptoms continue to worsen, particularly outside the normal flu season.

Legionnaires’ disease is treatable with antibiotics, but early medical attention can be important for people at higher risk of complications.