A third person has died in connection with the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak affecting New York City’s Upper East Side, according to city health officials, as authorities continue working to identify the source of the illness while noting signs that the outbreak may be slowing.
Dr. Alister Martin, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, announced Sunday that health officials had confirmed 74 cases of Legionnaires’ disease linked to the Upper East Side cluster.
As of Sunday night, eight people remained hospitalized while investigators continued monitoring the situation.
“It is with great sadness that I report a third person has died in connection with the Legionnaires’ disease community cluster on the Upper East Side. Our hearts are with their family and friends as they mourn their loss,” Martin said in a statement.
The announcement came just one day after the Health Department confirmed a second death tied to the outbreak, underscoring the seriousness of the public health situation even as officials reported encouraging trends in the latest data.
Martin said investigators have not identified “any concerning trends” through emergency surveillance efforts. While officials have not yet determined the precise source of the outbreak, they said there has been a sustained decline in newly reported cases, suggesting that the source of exposure to the Legionella bacteria has likely been removed or is no longer posing an ongoing risk.
Health officials continue urging residents and visitors who live in or have spent time within ZIP codes 10028, 10075 and 10128 to seek immediate medical attention if they begin experiencing flu-like symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment remain important for improving outcomes in those infected with the disease.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which commonly thrive in warm, stagnant water. Because of the bacteria’s known association with large building water systems, health officials have concentrated their response on inspecting cooling towers connected to commercial air conditioning systems throughout the affected area.
Property owners whose cooling towers tested positive for Legionella bacteria have been ordered to drain and disinfect the systems. The New York City Health Department said it will continue inspecting every cooling tower that returned a positive test result as part of its ongoing effort to ensure the bacteria are eliminated.
Officials have not yet announced whether any specific cooling tower has been identified as the origin of the outbreak, and the investigation remains active.
Although Legionnaires’ disease is treatable, it can become life-threatening if complications develop. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 10 percent of people who contract the illness die from complications.
Health officials continue encouraging the public to remain alert for symptoms, particularly those who were in the affected Upper East Side neighborhoods, while investigators work to complete their search for the source of the outbreak and prevent any additional cases.
[READ MORE: Trump says Canadian wildfire smoke has ‘poisoned’ U.S. air, raises possibility of additional tariffs]
