First Fatality Reported in New York City Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak

Health officials said Friday that a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City has resulted in its first fatality. The identity, age and timeline of the deceased have not been disclosed.

The outbreak, centered on the Upper East Side, has infected at least 67 people and led to dozens of hospitalizations, according to city health department data. Investigators are focusing on air-conditioning systems atop large buildings, which can emit water vapor containing Legionella bacteria.

Legionnaires' disease, a type of pneumonia, is treatable but has a mortality rate of about 10% in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. A similar outbreak in Harlem last year caused seven deaths and more than 100 illnesses.

City officials began monitoring the current cluster on July 2 after two cases were identified. 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. While it remains unclear which towers, if any, contributed to the spread, all affected buildings have been ordered to clean, drain and disinfect their cooling systems.

Legionella thrives in warm water and can be dispersed through cooling towers, hot tubs and showerheads. Infection typically occurs when people inhale aerosolized droplets of contaminated water; the disease does not spread from person to person.