Sixth Death Reported In UES Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY— A sixth person has died in connection with the City's Legionnaires' disease outbreak on the Upper East Side, as health officials reported no new cases have been diagnosed in more than 10 days.

The New York City Health Department has identified 90 cases linked to the outbreak. Six people remain hospitalized, while 65 patients have been discharged, according to the agency.

Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin announced the latest death in a statement post on X.

Martin said investigators believe the source of exposure is no longer active.

"We continue to believe the source of exposure has been eliminated," Martin wrote on X. "At this time, no one has reported new symptoms in over two weeks; no one has been diagnosed in over 10 days."

What Have Investigators Found?

As part of the City's investigation, health officials tested cooling towers in three Upper East Side ZIP codes: 10028, 10128, 10075.

The investigation identified 56 buildings where cooling towers tested positive for live Legionella bacteria.

Additional buildings returned positive results on rapid PCR tests, which can detect both live and dead bacteria.

The City ordered every affected building to drain, clean and disinfect its cooling towers.

Officials said additional testing will determine which cooling tower triggered the outbreak.

What Is Legionnaires' Disease?

Legionnaires' disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria.

The bacteria occur naturally in freshwater but can multiply in warm water systems, including:

• Cooling towers
• Hot water tanks
• Plumbing systems
• Shower heads
• Sink faucets
• Water heaters

People usually become infected by breathing contaminated mist. The disease generally does not spread from person to person.

Who Faces The Greatest Risk?

Most people recover without long-term complications, but severe illness is more likely among people with underlying medical conditions.

Dr. Chirag Shah, director of thoracic oncology at Northwell's Lenox Hill Hospital, told Patch patients with existing health problems face the greatest risk of lasting complications.

"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."

What Should Residents Watch For?

Legionnaires' disease often begins with symptoms similar to pneumonia, including:

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

Anyone who develops these symptoms after spending time in the affected area should seek medical care promptly, particularly older adults, smokers and people with weakened immune systems or chronic health conditions.