First Fatality Reported in New York Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak

Health officials confirmed Friday that a patient has died after contracting Legionnaires’ disease in an outbreak affecting New York City’s Upper East Side. The city has not released the victim’s identity, age or details about the illness timeline.

The investigation, which began after two cases were identified on July 2, has linked the outbreak to at least 67 confirmed infections and dozens of hospitalizations. Authorities are focusing on cooling towers atop many large buildings, which can emit water vapor containing Legionella bacteria.

The city’s health department reported that tests have found living or dead Legionella bacteria in cooling towers of more than 75 Upper East Side structures, including museums, private schools and high-end apartment buildings. All affected towers have been ordered to be cleaned, drained and disinfected, though it remains unclear which, if any, contributed to the spread.

Legionnaires’ disease, a type of pneumonia, is treatable but has a mortality rate of about 10% according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease spreads through inhalation of contaminated water droplets and does not transmit from person to person.