NYC Legionnaires' disease cluster rises to 46 confirmed cases

New York City health authorities have confirmed 46 cases of Legionnaires' disease, up from earlier reports, concentrated in the Upper East Side neighborhoods of Carnegie Hill and Yorkville. At least 22 of those affected have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been recorded, the NYC Department of Health said.

The department indicated that a cooling tower in the area is the most likely source of the Legionella bacteria, which spreads through mist containing the pathogen. All cooling towers in the affected zones are being tested, and officials emphasized that there is no problem with building plumbing systems; residents can continue to use tap water for drinking, cooking, bathing and air-conditioning.

"Our administration is moving to publicly identify specific buildings suspected of harboring Legionella and to require owners to clean cooling towers promptly," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

Legionnaires' disease, a form of pneumonia caused by inhaling contaminated water droplets, is not typically transmitted person-to-person. The CDC notes that while most patients recover with antibiotics, the illness can be fatal, especially for immunocompromised individuals or those with chronic lung conditions.