4th person dies after a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak sickens dozens in
New York City
[August 15, 2025]
NEW YORK (AP) — A fourth person has died in connection with a
Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City, health officials
disclosed Thursday as they revealed that some cooling towers that tested
positive for the bacteria are in city-run buildings.
The outbreak in Central Harlem has sickened dozens since it began in
late July. Seventeen people were hospitalized as of Thursday, according
to the health department.
The bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease had been discovered in 12
cooling towers on 10 buildings, including a city-run hospital and sexual
health clinic, health officials said. Remediation efforts have been
completed on 11 of the cooling towers, with the final tower's
remediation required to be completed Friday.
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by
Legionella bacteria, which grow in warm water and spread through
building water systems. The city's outbreak has been linked to cooling
towers, which use water and a fan to cool buildings.
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 People usually develop symptoms — a
cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches and shortness of breath —
between two days to two weeks after exposure to the bacteria,
according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Michelle Morse, the city's acting health commissioner, said new
cases in the Central Harlem outbreak have begun to decline “which
indicates that the sources of the bacteria have been contained.” She
urged people who live or work in the area to contact a health care
provider if they develop flu-like symptoms.
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