Sixth Fatality Reported in Upper East Side Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak
A sixth person has died from the Legionnaires' disease cluster on Manhattan's Upper East Side, bringing the death toll to six while no new cases have been reported for nearly two weeks.
A sixth person has died in connection with the Legionnaires' disease outbreak that has affected New York City's Upper East Side, health officials said Tuesday. The city has not recorded any new cases of the bacterial pneumonia since July 17, and recent data indicate the outbreak has slowed significantly. City Council Speaker Julie Menin expressed condolences to the family of the deceased in a statement posted on X.
The outbreak has sickened a total of 90 people, with 77 cooling towers testing positive for Legionella bacteria since early July, according to the New York City Health Department. Positive sites include major attractions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, a Marriott hotel, and All Souls Church. City officials ordered the cleaning and disinfection of all buildings that tested positive, and required remediation was completed by July 16.
Six patients remain hospitalized. Health officials noted that Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia that can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early, but it poses higher risks for individuals over 50, smokers or vapers, and those with chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver disease, diabetes, or weakened immune systems.