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An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has grown to 14 confirmed cases, New York City health officials said Sunday.
The cases are tied to ZIP codes 10028, 10128 and 10075, which cover parts of the Upper East Side, including Yorkville and Carnegie Hill. At least one patient is alive, working or has recently visited the 10075 area, health officials said.
Officials are also urging anyone who has spent time on the east side of Central Park between East 76th Street and East 97th Street to watch for flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, chills and muscle aches.
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An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has grown to 14 confirmed cases, according to New York City health officials. (Stock)
“I want to thank the NYC Department of Health’s epidemiologists, water ecologists, public health workers, and many others who spent the last few days working to keep New Yorkers on the Upper East Side informed and safe,” said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin in a statement.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. People can become infected by breathing in contaminated water droplets, and illness can be fatal – even fatal – without prompt treatment.
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The cause of this disease is still under investigation. Officials say they are examining cooling towers in the affected area as a possible source, although no specific source has been identified.
Cooling towers, often found on rooftops, can release mist that carries Legionella bacteria. The Ministry of Health said that all air conditioning units in the affected area are being tested.
The cluster was first announced on Thursday, when only two cases were confirmed. The area of investigation is expanding as more diseases are reported.
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Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. (Stock)
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“We identified a cluster early on when there were just two confirmed cases, and we acted quickly and decisively, putting vacation plans aside to deal with other New Yorkers. There is a lot of work to be done in the coming days as we learn more about the source of exposure and the confirmed cases,” said Martin.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the outbreak is not linked to the building’s plumbing or indoor air-conditioning units, and residents in the area can safely drink tap water, bathe, shower, cook and use their AC at home.
Officials said they will continue to provide information as more information becomes available.
“Please contact a health care provider immediately if you live, work or visit this area since late June and have flu-like symptoms, such as cough, fever or difficulty breathing,” Mamdani wrote to X.
Last summer, an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Central Harlem led to more than 100 confirmed cases, according to FOX 5.
