Family blames cooling tower owner after Air Force veteran dies in UES Legionnaires' outbreak

Key Points:

• An 88-year-old Upper East Side man has died after contracting Legionnaires' disease, becoming one of three fatalities linked to the outbreak; his family plans to sue the owner of the cooling tower believed to be the source once identified.
• The man, an Air Force veteran, was hospitalized for two weeks in intensive care before passing away, with doctors providing intensive treatments including ventilation and dialysis.
• Health officials continue investigating the outbreak, which has affected 74 people and is concentrated in the 10128, 10028, and 10075 ZIP codes; a cooling tower at the Metropolitan Museum of Art tested positive for Legionella bacteria.
• No new cases have been reported in over a week, and authorities believe the source of exposure has been eliminated, though the investigation remains active.
• The city's Health Department advises anyone with flu-like symptoms to seek medical care promptly, as Legionnaires' disease symptoms can appear up to 14 days after exposure and pose higher risks to older adults and immunocompromised individuals.