New York, New York — A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has caused its first reported death, New York City health officials said Friday.
The outbreak has sickened at least 67 people and hospitalized dozens, according to city Health Department data reported by the Associated Press. Officials have not released the identity, age, or medical details of the person who died.
Investigators are still working to identify the source of the outbreak, which was first detected July 2 after two cases were found in close proximity. Testing has identified living or dead Legionella bacteria in cooling towers on more than 75 Upper East Side buildings, including museums, schools, and apartment buildings.
City officials ordered affected buildings to clean, drain, and disinfect their cooling towers. It remains unclear which building, if any, caused the outbreak.
Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia caused by inhaling tiny droplets of contaminated water. It can grow in warm-water systems, including cooling towers, hot tubs, and showerheads. The disease does not spread person to person and is treatable, but the CDC says it can be fatal in about 10% of cases.
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