- HEALTH & FITNESS
City answers questions at town hall amid growing Upper East Side Legionnaires’ outbreak
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 3:28AM
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) –New York City health officials say 60 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease as an outbreak on the Upper East Side continues to grow
The cluster has also led to 15 hospitalizations so far, and prompted officials to hold a virtual town hall Monday night to answer health questions and concerns
“We thought it was important to take the most aggressive posture we’ve ever taken,” NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin said during the town hall
The city has identified 31 buildings with cooling towers that tested positive for Legionella bacteria and has ordered those buildings to clean and disinfect the systems. Officials released the addresses of all 31 locations last week as part of efforts to keep residents informed while the investigation continues
The city is still trying to identify the exact neighborhoods, including Carnegie Hill, Yorkville and Lenox Hill
Among the buildings with a cooling tower that tested positive is the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Officials stressed that a positive test result does not necessarily mean a building is the
“We think it’s important to be transparent and release the names of these cooling towers,” Martin said
ABC News medical contributor Dr. Darien Sutton said the number of positive cooling towers may sound alarming, but cautioned against assuming they are directly linked to illnesses
“Thirty-one buildings testing positive is alarming and understandably concerning, but it doesn’t mean that 31 buildings are actively making people sick,” Sutton said
City Council Speaker Julie Menin was critical of the city’s response over the weekend. She says the council will look at legislating more accountability and transparency from the Health Department
On Monday night following the town hall, Menin posted a message on social media, continuing to push for more transparency from the city
The Health Department is reminding residents that Legionnaires’ disease is not spread from person to person
During the town hall, officials emphasized that the disease is only contracted by breathing in water vapor from the cooling towers, and not from showering or drinking from water tanks, meaning it remains safe to drink tap water, bathe, shower and use air conditioning systems
Some residents are hesitant to feel at ease by such statements, especially when there isn’t much advice about how to avoid exposure
“I would love to have trust, but these are the folks that told us that it was absolutely fine to breathe air after 911. So, you know, I’m trying to be cautious,” said one resident
Others are less concerned
“I’m not that worried about it,” said another resident who spoke to Eyewitness News
Additional information is available through the NYC Health Department
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which can grow in water systems. People can become sick after inhaling contaminated water droplets. Symptoms often include cough, fever, shortness of breath and muscle aches
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Related Topics
- HEALTH & FITNESS
- UPPER EAST SIDE
- LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE
