- HEALTH & FITNESS
Officials search for
ByJaysha Patel
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 10:42AM
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) –New York City health officials say there are now 28 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease tied to an outbreak on the Upper East Side, prompting a community town hall to address residents’ concerns and provide updates on the investigation
The cases have been identified across three Upper East Side ZIP codes that include the neighborhoods of Carnegie Hill, Yorkville and Lenox Hill. Health officials believe the likelysing a mist containing Legionella bacteria
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia that occurs when Legionella bacteria infect the lungs. Health officials emphasized that the outbreak is not linked to any building’s plumbing system. Residents in the affected areas can continue to drink tap water, bathe, shower, cook and use their home air conditioning systems, according to the Health Department
The city is testing every cooling tower in the affected area as investigators work to identify theesses of any building whose cooling towers test positive during the initial screening process
“Our goal here is to go and test every single cooling tower,” said Dr. Alister Martin, the city’s health commissioner. He noted that more than one tower could potentially be contributing to the outbreak. Officials said a comprehensive approach is the best way to address the issue
Eyewitness News has details on the town hall that was held Tuesday night on the Upper East Side.
Health officials urged anyone experiencing flu-like or pneumonia-like symptoms to seek medical attention. They also warned that the number of confirmed Legionnaires’ disease cases is expected to continue to rise as testing and investigations continue
Dr. Darien Sutton joins Eyewitness News with more on the Legionnaires’ cluster on the Upper East Side.
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Related Topics
- HEALTH & FITNESS
- MANHATTAN
- LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE
