Family of Upper East Side Legionnaires' Victim Plans Lawsuit Against Cooling Tower Owner
An 88-year-old veteran died after contracting Legionnaires' disease during a New York City outbreak, and his family intends to sue the cooling tower owner once identified.
An 88-year-old Air Force veteran from the Upper East Side died on Friday after a two-week intensive-care stay for Legionnaires' disease, the third fatality linked to the ongoing outbreak in Manhattan. His family, represented by attorney Ron Ketter, said the veteran fell ill on July 2 when his wife found him with a fever near an open window in their Yorkville apartment. > "He was intubated and on a respirator, also bedside dialysis. Intravenous antibiotics and I think they were even monitoring his brainwaves," Ketter said.
City health officials continue to investigate the source of the Legionella bacteria, testing cooling towers throughout the affected ZIP codes 10128, 10028 and 10075. A cooling tower at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has tested positive for the bacteria, though the specific tower responsible for the outbreak has not yet been confirmed. To date, 74 people have been diagnosed, with eight remaining hospitalized.
The New York City Health Department urges anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms within 14 days of possible exposure to seek medical care. While no new cases have been reported in over a week and officials believe the exposure source has been eliminated, the investigation remains open.