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2 Legionnaires’ disease cases appear at a Queens housing complex. Here’s what we know.

Gothamist • October 5, 2026 • health

Key Points:

Two residents of North Shore Towers in Queens were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, prompting an investigation by New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
The health department advised at-risk residents—such as smokers, those with chronic respiratory issues, and people over 50—to avoid showering to reduce inhalation of potentially contaminated mist.
Unlike recent deadly neighborhood-wide outbreaks linked to rooftop cooling towers in Manhattan and the Bronx, these new cases in Queens appear isolated and may be related to the building’s plumbing system.
Inspectors have not yet confirmed the presence of Legionella bacteria in the building’s plumbing, and officials stressed that the water is safe to drink and the disease does not spread between people.
Legionnaires’ disease cases have increased significantly in the U.S. over the past 20 years, with New York City experiencing double the number of cases in 2025 compared to the previous year.

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