NYC Ends Upper East Side Legionnaires’ Outbreak After 7 Deaths and 92 Cases
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 31
NYC Ends Upper East Side Legionnaires’ Outbreak After 7 Deaths and 92 Cases
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 31
Summary
New York City health officials said the Upper East Side outbreak has ended after enough time passed without new infections, with the last case diagnosed on July 21.
92 cases were identified and seven people died, but most infections were diagnosed in the first eight days of July and only three surfaced after July 15.
Officials believe a rooftop cooling tower spread Legionella through bacteria-laden mist, causing a severe form of pneumonia that especially threatens older people and those with underlying conditions.
Cooling towers have driven past city outbreaks, including a 2025 Harlem episode and the 2015 South Bronx outbreak that killed at least 12 people.