- A Legionnaires' disease outbreak on Manhattan's Upper East Side has grown to 14 confirmed cases, according to New York City health officials.
- The cases are tied to ZIP codes 10028, 10128, and 10075, covering parts of the Upper East Side, including Yorkville and Carnegie Hill.
- Health officials have expanded their warning to anyone who has spent time along the east side of Central Park between East 76th Street and East 97th Street to watch for symptoms.
- The cluster was first announced Thursday, when only two cases had been confirmed, and has since expanded as more illnesses were reported.
- Previously, the Health Department stated it had begun an investigation in the neighborhoods of Carnegie Hill and Yorkville for 10 reported and confirmed cases.
- Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella, which grows in warm water and is not contagious.
- The source of the outbreak remains under investigation, with officials testing cooling towers in the affected area as a possible source.
- Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin urged anyone who lives, works, or has visited the area since late June to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms including fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has expanded to 14 confirmed cases, according to New York City health officials. The affected areas include zip codes 10028, 10128, and 10075, covering neighborhoods like Yorkville and Carnegie Hill.123
The Health Department initially reported 10 cases, but the cluster has since grown, prompting an investigation into the source of the outbreak. “We identified the cluster early when there were just two confirmed cases, and we’ve acted swiftly and decisively,” said Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin. “There is more work to do in the days ahead as we learn more about the source of exposure and confirmed cases.”
Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella, is not contagious and cannot be transmitted through drinking water or cooking. Common sources of exposure include cooling towers, hot tubs, and spray fountains. The Health Department is currently testing cooling towers in the affected area, as past outbreaks have been linked to contaminated mist released from these structures.67
Mayor Zohran Mamdani reassured residents that the outbreak is not related to building plumbing or indoor air conditioning units, stating it is safe to drink, bathe, and cook with tap water. “Please contact a health care provider immediately if you live, work or visited the area since late June and are experiencing flu-like symptoms,” he advised.
A health alert has been issued to medical providers, and community outreach efforts are set to begin this weekend as officials continue to monitor the situation.
“Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin said officials identified the cluster early with just two cases and are testing cooling towers in the affected area. Separately, a previous outbreak in Central Harlem last summer led to over 100 cases, underscoring the city's history with Legionella.”
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