NYC Links 46 Legionnaires' Cases to Upper East Side Cooling Towers

3 articles · Updated · WABC-TV · Jul 10

46 confirmed Legionnaires' cases and 22 hospitalizations have now been tied to an Upper East Side outbreak, with city health officials saying dozens of buildings tested positive for traces of Legionella.
Testing that began July 2 in three ZIP codes identified several likely sources, including a Third Avenue cooling tower of interest and an East 85th Street commercial building with an initial positive PCR result.
The Health Department ordered immediate remediation—draining, cleaning and disinfecting affected towers—and said more addresses will be released in the coming days as testing nears completion.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has pledged transparency, but the list of towers of interest is still unpublished, drawing criticism from Councilmember Julie Menin and residents who say disclosure is taking too long.
The outbreak revives concern after an East Harlem cooling-tower outbreak last summer killed 7 people and sickened more than 100, underscoring the risk from bacteria spread through outdoor mist and water droplets.