A sixth person has died in the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that unsettled Manhattan’s Upper East Side, even as health officials said Tuesday that the city has gone nearly two weeks without a newly reported case of the bacterial infection.
“Heartbreakingly, I’ve just learned that a sixth person has died in connection with the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on the Upper East Side,” City Council Speaker Julie Menin said in a statement posted on X.
“My thoughts are with their family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” added Menin, who represents the Manhattan neighborhood.
The pneumonia-like illness has not produced any newly reported cases since July 17, and recent figures indicate the Upper East Side Legionnaires’ disease cluster has “significantly” slowed.
“While there have been no new reported cases in nearly two weeks and the latest data suggests the outbreak has significantly slowed, every loss is a devastating reminder of the toll this outbreak has had on our community,” Menin wrote.
In all, 90 people have been infected by the potentially deadly illness. Since July 2, 77 cooling towers have tested positive for Legionella bacteria, according to the New York City Health Department.
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Among the prominent sites with cooling towers that tested positive were The Met, the Guggenheim Museum, a Marriott Hotel and All Souls Church, the department said.
As part of the city’s investigation, officials directed every building with a positive screening result to clean and disinfect its cooling tower systems.
All required remediations were completed by July 16.
Six people still remain hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease, authorities said.
Health officials announced the fifth death from the outbreak last Tuesday.
The sickness is a deadly type of pneumonia that causes flu-like symptoms and can be treated with antibiotics if caught early.
Those who are ages 50 or older, smoke or vape, have chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver disease, or diabetes, or a weakened immune system are at a higher risk of complications from the illness.
