NEW YORK — New York City health officials said the number of confirmed Legionnaires' disease cases linked to an outbreak on Manhattan's Upper East Side has risen to 56, as investigators continue working to identify the source of the infections and order remediation at buildings where Legionella bacteria have been detected.
The New York City Department of Health said 16 people are currently hospitalized, while 31 patients who required hospital care have since been discharged and nine people did not require hospitalization. Officials said no deaths have been linked to the outbreak.
The outbreak has affected residents, workers and visitors in the Upper East Side neighborhoods of Carnegie Hill, Yorkville and Lenox Hill after health authorities first identified a cluster of cases in early July. The city has advised anyone who spent time in the affected area since late June and develops symptoms including fever, cough or difficulty breathing to seek medical attention promptly.
Health officials said they have identified 31 buildings whose cooling towers tested positive for Legionella bacteria during preliminary screening. The buildings have been ordered to clean and disinfect their cooling tower systems, with remediation either completed or underway. Authorities stressed that a positive test does not establish that a particular building is the source of the outbreak and that laboratory analysis remains ongoing.
The Health Department has emphasized that Legionnaires' disease is not spread from person to person and that it remains safe to drink tap water, shower and use air conditioners in the affected neighborhoods. Investigators believe the outbreak is associated with contaminated water droplets released from one or more cooling towers, a common source of community outbreaks.
City officials scheduled a virtual public town hall on Monday to answer residents' questions about the investigation, the health risks and the city's response as case numbers continued to increase. Officials said the precise source of the outbreak has not yet been confirmed.
Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which can grow in warm water systems and spread through inhaled water mist. People aged 50 and older, smokers, individuals with chronic lung disease and those with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness, according to public health authorities.
The investigation remains active as environmental testing and laboratory analysis continue. Health officials said they will provide additional updates as more results become available and urged anyone experiencing compatible symptoms after visiting the affected area to contact a healthcare provider.
