New York City health officials have identified 31 buildings with cooling towers that tested positive for the bacteria responsible for Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia that can be fatal. The outbreak has led to 60 reported cases and 15 hospitalizations in the city, with no deaths reported in connection to this specific cluster.
The affected buildings are primarily located in Manhattan's Upper East Side, Yorkville, and Carnegie Hill neighborhoods, spanning zip codes 10128, 10029, 10075, and 10028. Among the structures identified are the Guggenheim Museum, a building housing a Whole Foods Market, and Gracie Towers, a residential complex.
Officials first recorded a case on June 27 and suspected an outbreak as more cases emerged. On Friday, NYC Health released the preliminary list of buildings, all of which have been ordered to immediately clean and disinfect their cooling towers as a precautionary measure. Remediation was expected to be completed by July 11.
Additional testing is underway to determine if live Legionella bacteria were present in the water samples collected, a process that can take up to two weeks. Emergency orders from Mayor Zohran Mamdani mandate that building owners clean their towers regardless of the live testing results.
Legionnaires' disease is caused by Legionella bacteria, which thrive in warm, damp environments and can become airborne in water vapor. Common sources include air conditioning systems, hot tubs, and plumbing systems. Officials have stated that it is safe to use air conditioners and cooling centers in the affected zip codes, and there is no increased risk from showering, drinking tap water, or being inside these buildings. The disease does not spread from person to person.
Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include headache, muscle aches, fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia and sepsis. While treatable with antibiotics, early intervention is crucial.
Individuals over 50, smokers, those with chronic lung disease, or compromised immune systems are at higher risk. Nationwide, Legionnaires' disease cases have significantly increased over the past two decades, with New York City recording between 300 and 600 cases annually. A previous outbreak in Harlem in August of the prior year sickened 114 people and resulted in seven deaths, linked to bacteria found in 12 cooling towers across 10 buildings.