Legionnaires' Disease - NYC Health

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Legionnaires' Disease

Legionnaires' Disease Cluster on the Upper East Side

The NYC Health Department is currently investigating a community cluster of Legionnaires' disease in the Upper East Side neighborhoods of Carnegie Hill and Yorkville (ZIP codes 10028, 10128, and 10075).

As of July 10, there are:

54 cases

18 currently hospitalized

0 deaths

This is not an issue with any building's plumbing system. Residents in these ZIP codes can continue to drink tap water, bathe, shower, cook, and use your air conditioner at home.

Any New Yorkers who currently live or work in this area or people who have visited the area since late June and are experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as cough, fever, or difficulty breathing should contact a health care provider immediately. For help finding a provider, regardless of immigration or insurance status, visit NYC Health + Hospitals or call 311 or 844-NYC-4NYC (844-692-4692).

Upper East Side Legionnaires' Disease Cluster: PCR-Positive Cooling Tower Systems (PDF, July 10)

Legionnaires’ Disease: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, July 10)

Other Languages: Español

Notice to Carnegie Hill and Yorkville About Legionnaires’ Disease (PDF, July 10)

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Read our July 2 update on the City's investigation of this cluster of cases.

Virtual Town Hall

Join on Zoom: Updates on Legionnaires' Disease Cluster Investigation

July 13, 2026, at 6 p.m.

Dial-in option: 646-828-7666, webinar ID: 165 922 6004

Previous Town Hall: Legionnaires' Disease Virtual Town Hall, recorded July 6

Diagnosis date is the date the specimen that tested positive was collected from the patient. Data are preliminary and subject to change.

Last updated July 10 at 10 p.m.

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia. It is caused by bacteria (Legionella) that grow in warm water. Legionnaires' disease causes flu-like symptoms, and complications from the disease can be serious and even fatal, if left untreated.

People who breathe in water vapor (mist) that contains Legionella bacteria can get sick.

Most people who are exposed to the bacteria do not develop Legionnaires' disease. Illness usually occurs after high or repeated exposure, especially in people who are at increased risk.

Legionnaires' disease is not contagious — you cannot get it from someone else. You cannot get Legionnaires' disease by drinking water, cooking, or using air conditioning. The bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease does not spread through cooled air from air conditioners.

You are at an increased risk for Legionnaires' disease if you:

Are age 50 or older

Smoke or vape

Have chronic heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease or diabetes

Have a weakened immune system due to a medical condition or medication

When there are multiple people in a neighborhood with Legionnaires' disease (community cluster), common sources of exposure are cooling towers, hot tubs, and spray fountains.

At other times, when there are multiple people with Legionnaires' disease who live in the same building (building cluster), the exposure is typically related to a building’s plumbing system — most often the hot water system. When this happens, a building’s residents can be exposed through water mist when they shower.

When there are two or more confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease within a 12-month period associated with the same building with a shared hot water system, the Health Department will conduct a building evaluation.

Legionnaires’ Disease and Building Evaluations (PDF)

Copper Silver Ionization Water Treatment and Health (PDF)

Symptoms

Legionnaires' disease symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, and cough. People may also have headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, confusion, or diarrhea.

If you have these symptoms, seek medical attention. It is especially important for people at increased risk for Legionnaires' disease to seek care right away . Tell your health care provider you are worried about Legionnaires’ disease.

Prevention

There is no vaccine or medicine that can prevent Legionnaires' disease, but it can be treated with antibiotics, and most people get better with early treatment. The best way to prevent the disease is through the proper maintenance of water systems where Legionella may grow.

In NYC, building owners are required to register cooling towers. This allows the Health Department to quickly investigate when we are notified of clusters of Legionnaires' disease cases. Building owners also need to routinely test the water in the cooling tower for the presence of Legionella and do routine checks of their system as required by NYC cooling tower...