The incident on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has resulted in 72 infections, according to health officials. Two fatalities have been recorded. The first was reported on Friday, with the second following on Saturday.
“We are devastated to hear of another New Yorker losing their life to Legionnaires’ disease on the Upper East Side. Our heartfelt sympathies are with their families during this difficult time,” stated New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by bacteria that prosper in warm, stagnant water. Health authorities have concentrated their efforts on testing cooling towers used in large building air conditioning systems.
Property owners have been mandated to drain and disinfect any towers that have tested positive for the bacteria.
Health officials have yet to pinpoint the source of the ongoing outbreak, but they have noted a consistent decrease in new cases, suggesting that the source of Legionella bacteria exposure has likely been removed.
While Legionnaires’ disease is treatable, approximately 10% of those affected may die due to complications from the illness, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last year, seven individuals lost their lives, and over 100 became ill during an outbreak in Harlem.
