Seventh Fatality Reported in Upper East Side Legionnaires' Outbreak as Cases Reach 92
New York City health officials say a seventh person has died from Legionnaires' disease, with 92 confirmed cases and five patients still in hospital, while no new illnesses have been reported for two weeks.
A seventh death has been confirmed in the Upper East Side Legionnaires' disease outbreak, bringing the total fatalities to seven, city health officials said. The New York City health department reported 92 confirmed infections, of which five people remain hospitalized. The disease, a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, is believed to be linked to contaminated cooling towers. Investigators identified 56 cooling towers that tested positive, and officials state that every culture-positive tower has now been inspected. The city indicated that the source of exposure appears to have been eliminated, noting no new cases in the past two weeks. Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin expressed sympathy for the victims' families, saying, "We are saddened to share that a seventh person has died from Legionnaires' on the Upper East Side." He also noted that 67 previously hospitalized patients have been discharged. City authorities said further details on enforcement actions related to cooling-tower compliance will be released later.