Upper East Side Legionnaires’ outbreak claims fifth death as cooling towers are remediated

Five people have died and 82 have been sick in a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The city has confirmed live Legionella in 34 cooling towers across 33 buildings and says those towers have been cleaned or remediated; 140 remaining cooling towers are being tested. Of the sick, 56 have been discharged and eight remain hospitalized, with no new cases in six days. The outbreak spans ZIP codes 10028, 10075 and 10128 as investigators continue to identify and address sources of exposure.