Sixth person dies in Upper East Side Legionnaires’ disease outbreak - Gothamist
A sixth person has died in a Legionnaires' disease outbreak on Manhattan's Upper East Side, which has sickened 90 people since July. City health officials believe the source is a contaminated cooling tower and have ordered widespread testing and disinfection of buildings in the area.
Why it matters
The outbreak underscores public health risks associated with urban infrastructure maintenance and the recurring nature of Legionella outbreaks in dense cities.
A sixth person has died in the Upper East Side Legionnaires’ outbreak, which has sickened 90 people since it was first identified in early July, according to the city health department.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to their loved ones, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time,” Dr. Alister Martin, the city health commissioner, said in a post on X announcing the death Tuesday evening.
The outbreak of the severe form of pneumonia hospitalized more than 70 people, six of whom remain in the hospital, according to the city health department. But city health officials say no new cases have been diagnosed since July 17 and no new symptoms have been reported in more than two weeks.
“We continue to believe the source of exposure has been eliminated,” Martin said on X.
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