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Upper East Side Legionnaires' Deaths Climb to Nine
15 Aug
Summary
- Nine individuals have succumbed to Legionnaires' disease in the Upper East Side outbreak.
- Health officials have confirmed the elimination of the outbreak's source.
- New legislation mandates stricter cooling tower inspections across New York City.
Nine individuals have died following a Legionnaires' disease cluster on Manhattan's Upper East Side. New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin announced that the source of the outbreak has been eliminated, and no new symptoms have been reported in over three weeks. This cluster, first reported on July 3, led to 92 positive cases as of July 30.
Nearly 60 cooling towers in the affected ZIP codes (10128, 10028, 10075) tested positive for Legionella bacteria. All buildings have since addressed their towers through draining, cleaning, and disinfection. Currently, one person remains hospitalized, and the health department continues to monitor for any additional cases.
In response, Governor Kathy Hochul signed new legislation fortifying New York City's cooling tower regulations. The law enforces twice-yearly certifications, accelerates remediation processes, and imposes stiffer penalties for non-compliance, aiming to prevent future outbreaks.
