5 dead, 82 sick in Upper East Side Legionnaires’ disease outbreak - Gothamist

What the report says

Gothamist reported that New York City health officials have linked five deaths and 82 confirmed illnesses to a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The city Health Department announced the latest death Tuesday, July 21, 2026, one day after confirming a fourth fatality. The outbreak has been associated with ZIP codes 10028, 10075 and 10128.

According to the report, testing identified live Legionella bacteria in 34 cooling towers across 33 Upper East Side buildings. City officials said all of those towers, along with others that had earlier positive tests, have been cleaned and disinfected. The Health Department was still waiting for results from 140 additional cooling tower systems tested as part of the investigation.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia that people can contract by breathing in mist or vapor contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Cooling towers, which are used in some building air-conditioning systems, are a known potential source when not properly maintained. The disease does not typically spread from person to person, but it can be especially dangerous for older adults, smokers and people with weakened immune systems.

Gothamist reported that 56 patients have been discharged from hospitals and eight remained hospitalized. The city said no new cases had been diagnosed in six days and no new symptoms had been reported in more than 10 days. Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin said the city believes its testing and remediation effort has removed the exposure source, while laboratory work and compliance reviews continue.