- HEALTH & FITNESS
2nd victim to die in Upper East Side Legionnaires’ outbreak was Air Force veteran
Sunday, July 19, 2026 6:37PM
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) –Officials have released new information about the second person who has died in connection to the ongoing Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on the Upper East Side
The law firm that represents the victim said Sunday that he is an 88-year-old man who was a businessman and an Air Force veteran
New York City’s Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin announced the latest death on Friday evening
“We are heartbroken to learn that another New Yorker has lost their life to Legionnaires’ disease on the Upper East Side. Our deepest condolences are with their loved ones as they grieve,” said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin
Dr. Martin said despite the death, the data is encouraging
“Our aggressive strategy of testing, enforcement, and remediation appears to have stopped the source of exposure,” Martin said. “We directed every building with an initial positive test result to immediately clean and disinfect its cooling tower, and every one has completed that work. We have also reminded cooling tower operators across the city of their summertime requirement to increase use of biocides that kill Legionella bacteria. We will continue inspecting every cooling tower that tested positive and will hold accountable any owner who fails to comply with our public health laws.”
As of Saturday night, 72 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, and nine people are hospitalized in association with this cluster
The tragic announcement comes just days after the city revealed more than 45 additional positive tests for Legionella bacteria linked to cooling towers on the Upper East Side
So far, they have ordered a total of 76 buildings to clean their cooling towers as they work to contain the ongoing outbreak
Legionnaires’ disease is treatable but 10% of people will die due to complications from the illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Last year, seven people died and more than 100 were sickened during an outbreak in New York’s Harlem neighborhood
Health officials are urging anyone experiencing pneumonia-like symptoms to seek medical attention
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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