NYC Legionnaires' Outbreak Death Toll Rises to 9 After 2 More Upper East Side Deaths
Updated
Updated · WABC-TV · Aug 15
NYC Legionnaires' Outbreak Death Toll Rises to 9 After 2 More Upper East Side Deaths
3 articles · Updated · WABC-TV · Aug 15
Summary
Two newly confirmed deaths pushed the Upper East Side Legionnaires’ outbreak toll to nine, even though city officials declared the outbreak over late last month.
Ninety-two people were diagnosed since early July and more than 70 were hospitalized; only one patient remains hospitalized now.
Health Commissioner Alister Martin said the fatal cases were diagnosed weeks ago and that the source had already been eliminated after no new symptoms emerged for more than two weeks.
City investigators traced the outbreak to Legionella-contaminated cooling towers, ordered positive towers remediated, but still have not identified which specific tower caused the outbreak.
The nine deaths now exceed last summer’s Harlem outbreak, which killed seven, adding pressure on the city and building owners over recurring preventable cases.