NYC health officials investigate Legionnaires' disease cluster on Upper East Side
Eighteen cases of Legionnaires' disease have been confirmed in Manhattan's Yorkville and Carnegie Hill neighborhoods, with health officials suspecting a cooling tower as the source.
New York City health officials are investigating a cluster of Legionnaires' disease that has affected 18 people in the Upper East Side neighborhoods of Yorkville and Carnegie Hill, according to the Department of Health. The cases were identified in a one-square-mile area between East 74th and East 96th streets, covering ZIP codes 10028, 10128 and 10075. No deaths have been linked to the outbreak so far.
The department indicated that a cooling tower that disperses mist is the most likely source of the Legionella bacteria, while ruling out problems with building plumbing or tap water. Residents were advised that they can continue to use tap water for drinking, cooking, bathing and air-conditioning.
"We're tracking 18 patients so far, and what I can say right now is that many of them are hospitalized at this moment," said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin. "Luckily, we've had our first discharge — meaning someone who's made it through the cycle. But I will say we're early, right? We're still early in this process."
Several patients remain in intensive care, and officials warned that anyone who lives, works or has visited the affected area since late June and experiences flu-like symptoms should seek medical attention promptly. Legionnaires' disease can be fatal, especially for immunocompromised individuals or those with chronic lung conditions, with a mortality rate of about 10% overall and higher rates in healthcare settings.
