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NYC Legionnaires' Cluster: Sixth Death Reported Amidst Declining Cases
29 Jul
Summary
- A sixth person died from Legionnaires' disease in Manhattan's Upper East Side.
- Ninety people have tested positive for the bacteria since last month.
- City officials are confident the source of the outbreak has been eliminated.
A cluster of Legionnaires' disease on Manhattan's Upper East Side has resulted in a sixth fatality. The outbreak, which began last month, has seen 90 confirmed cases of the illness caused by Legionella bacteria.
Health officials announced on Tuesday, July 29, 2026, that a sixth person had passed away. They are "confident the source of the Legionella bacteria has been eliminated," noting that no new symptoms have been reported in over two weeks and no new diagnoses have occurred in over 10 days.
During the investigation, 183 cooling towers across 160 buildings were tested. Fifty-nine cooling towers in 58 buildings tested positive for Legionella bacteria; all have since been cleaned and disinfected. Despite these measures, residents and visitors of the affected area are advised to remain vigilant for symptoms.
