What to know about Upper East Side Legionnaires’ disease cluster

Key Points:

• A cluster of Legionnaires' disease has been identified on Manhattan's Upper East Side, affecting 23 people with 17 hospitalized, now including the area east of Central Park from 76th to 97th Street.
• The New York City Department of Health is investigating over 160 cooling towers in the expanded zone as potential sources, emphasizing immediate cleaning and testing to remediate the bacteria.
• Legionella bacteria typically grow in poorly maintained cooling towers and spread through water vapor, but cannot be transmitted person-to-person; symptoms include cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.
• Residents are advised to avoid indoor steam and seek medical testing promptly if flu-like symptoms appear, while routine activities like drinking water and using air conditioning remain safe.
• The city recently enacted stricter laws requiring regular cleaning and reporting of cooling towers, but questions remain about compliance and the outbreak's source, with potential for more cases due to the disease's incubation period.