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Upper East Side Legionnaires' disease: Testing reveals buildings possibly linked to outbreak
ABC7 New York • • health
Key Points:
- New York City health officials have found dozens of buildings on the Upper East Side with traces of Legionella bacteria, linked to the current outbreak causing 46 cases and 22 hospitalizations.
- Testing began on July 2 after identifying the outbreak in three ZIP codes, with a commercial building at East 85th Street testing positive for Legionella; the building owner was ordered to remediate and disinfect cooling towers immediately.
- The bacteria spread through mist from cooling towers and outdoor water droplets, not inside buildings, prompting mandatory monthly testing of cooling towers in affected areas.
- Officials plan to release a list of "cooling towers of interest" soon, but some residents and city council members criticize the delay, fearing more illnesses could occur before full transparency.
- This outbreak follows a similar Legionnaires' disease incident in East Harlem last summer, which resulted in seven deaths and over 100 illnesses, highlighting ongoing public health concerns.
