NYC reports 23 Legionnaires' disease cases linked to Upper East Side cooling towers
The New York City Health Department confirmed 23 cases and 17 hospitalizations of Legionnaires' disease tied to suspected contaminated cooling towers on the Upper East Side, with no deaths reported.
New York City health officials said 23 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease and 17 have been hospitalized after exposure on the Upper East Side, near Central Park, since late June. The department identified cooling towers as the probable source and emphasized that the bacteria is not spread from person to person nor through the municipal water supply.
"Legionnaires’ disease is deadly but can be effectively treated if diagnosed early," NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin said in a press release, adding that residents aged 50 and older, smokers and those with chronic lung conditions should monitor symptoms and seek care promptly.
The disease, caused by Legionella bacteria that thrive in stagnant water, can cause pneumonia-like symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches and headache, typically appearing two to 14 days after exposure. Experts noted that early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment, usually with levofloxacin or azithromycin, are critical to reduce the risk of severe outcomes.
The health department is working with building owners to inspect and remediate cooling towers and advises the public to be vigilant for symptoms while the investigation continues.