NYC health officials report 14 Legionnaires' disease cases on Upper East Side
Fourteen cases of Legionnaires' disease have been confirmed in Manhattan's Upper East Side, prompting officials to test cooling towers and advise residents to watch for flu-like symptoms.
New York City health officials said Sunday that 14 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease in the Upper East Side, specifically in ZIP codes 10028, 10128 and 10075, which include Yorkville and Carnegie Hill. The department is urging anyone who spent time along the east side of Central Park between East 76th and East 97th Streets since late June to monitor for fever, cough, chills or muscle aches.
"I want to acknowledge the NYC Health Department’s staff of epidemiologists, water ecologists, community health workers, and many more who spent the last few days working to keep New Yorkers on the Upper East Side informed and safe," Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin said.
"We identified the cluster early when there were just two confirmed cases, and we’ve acted swiftly and decisively, setting holiday plans aside to step up for our fellow New Yorkers," Martin added.
The source of the outbreak remains under investigation, with officials testing cooling towers in the area as a possible origin. Cooling towers, which can emit mist containing Legionella bacteria, are being examined, though no definitive source has been identified.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the outbreak is not linked to building plumbing or indoor air-conditioning units and assured residents that tap water, bathing, showering, cooking and home AC use are safe.
"Please contact a health care provider immediately if you live, work or visited the area since late June and are experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as cough, fever or difficulty breathing," the mayor wrote on X.
The health department will continue to provide updates as the investigation proceeds.
