Second Death Reported in New York City Legionnaires’ Outbreak

NEW YORK — A second New Yorker has died amid the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak tied to the Upper East Side, city health officials confirmed.

NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin announced the latest death Friday evening as the city continues its response to the cluster.

By Saturday night, 72 people had been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease in connection with the outbreak, while nine patients remained hospitalized.

The update follows the city’s recent disclosure that more than 45 additional tests came back positive for Legionella bacteria, with the findings linked to cooling towers in the Upper East Side area.

As part of the containment effort, officials have directed 76 buildings to clean and disinfect their cooling towers.

The Health Department is advising anyone who develops symptoms resembling pneumonia to contact a medical provider right away.

Martin said the city is grieving with the family of the latest victim, calling the death heartbreaking. He added that, despite the loss, current data suggests the city’s rapid testing, enforcement and remediation efforts may have halted the source of exposure. According to the commissioner, every building with an initial positive test has completed required cleaning and disinfection of its cooling tower, while operators citywide have been reminded to increase summertime use of biocides designed to kill Legionella bacteria. Martin said inspectors will continue checking every cooling tower that tested positive and that building owners who fail to follow public health rules will be held accountable.