Fifth Death Reported In NYC Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak

By Ellyn Vohnoutka HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, Senior Medical Editor, B. Pharm. Last updated on July 28, 2026.

TUESDAY, July 28, 2026 — A fifth person has died in a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, New York City health officials said.

As of July 27, 90 people have been diagnosed in the month since the cluster emerged in the Carnegie Hill and Yorkville neighborhoods, according to the New York City Health Department.

Seven people remained hospitalized, 65 have been discharged, and 13 were never admitted.

The outbreak has been traced to contaminated cooling towers — large equipment used to cool big buildings, the health department said. Officials tested 183 cooling towers at 160 buildings and found 77 positive for Legionella, the bacteria that causes the disease.

Despite the contamination, officials stressed that the neighborhood’s water is safe to use. The health department said this outbreak is not linked to any building’s plumbing system.

“Residents in ZIP codes 10028, 10128 and 10075 can continue to drink tap water, bathe, shower, cook and use your air conditioner at home,” the agency said.

Plumbing can be a source in other circumstances. The health department says that when cases cluster among residents of a single building rather than across a neighborhood, the source is usually that building’s hot water system, and people can be exposed to mist while showering. Neighborhood clusters like this one are more often traced to cooling towers, hot tubs, or spray fountains.

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that people catch by breathing in small water droplets containing Legionella. Less commonly, people can get sick if water containing the bacteria accidentally goes into the lungs while drinking, which is called aspiration. This is more likely in people who have trouble swallowing. The disease is not generally spread from person to person. Home and car air conditioners, including window units, are not a risk because they do not use water to cool the air. Large buildings are different, because the cooling towers used in centralized cooling systems hold water in which Legionella can grow.

Complications can be serious and even fatal if the illness is not treated.

No new cases have been diagnosed since July 17, and officials said they think the source of the bacteria has been eliminated.

The health department requires building owners to register and routinely test cooling towers, which lets investigators respond quickly when a cluster appears.

Most people exposed to the bacteria never get sick. The risk is higher for people 50 or older, those who smoke or vape now or did in the past, and those with diabetes or chronic heart, lung, kidney or liver disease, according to the health department. People with weakened immune systems, including those taking medicines that suppress immunity, are also more vulnerable. The CDC additionally lists cancer among the conditions that raise risk.

About 10% of people who develop Legionnaires’ disease die from the infection, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy. Early treatment with antibiotics can limit how severe the illness becomes.

Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches and cough. Some people also have headaches, fatigue, confusion or diarrhea.

Anyone who lives or works in the area, or who has visited since late June, and develops flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever or trouble breathing should contact a healthcare provider right away, officials said.

Editor’s note: This article was edited by Carmen Pope, BPharm, to align the description of how Legionnaires’ disease spreads and who is at increased risk with current CDC and New York City Health Department guidance.

Sources

Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy, July 22, 2026
New York City Health Department, July 27, 2026

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.