Visitors to and residents of New York City‘s Central Park and Upper East Side neighborhoods are being told to watch for symptoms of a life-threatening lung disease as more than a dozen cases are confirmed in the area.
A total of 18 people in the area have now been sickened with Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia spread through contaminated water vapor that kills one in 10 patients.
Almost all the patients live, work or recently visited the area, with cases also diagnosed in the Yorkville and Carnegie Hill neighborhoods.
No deaths have been reported to date.
City health officials are warning that anyone who recently visited the affected neighborhoods or was in Central Park between East 76 and East 97 Street could have been exposed.
They said that those who had been in the area any time since late June and who are suffering from flu-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
Health officials have said that the outbreak is not linked to a building’s plumbing system or air conditioning unit, adding that residents in affected areas could continue to safely drink tap water, bathe, shower, cook or use their air conditioner at home.
In previous outbreaks, cases of Legionnaires’ disease have also been linked to hot tubs, water fountains and misting devices. Health officials have not said whether the current outbreak is linked to these potential sources.
Air conditioning units are seen in the Harlem neighborhood last year amid a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that led to seven deaths and 114 infections
Officials said the zip codes affected by the outbreak were 10075 and 10028, which cover Yorkville, and 10128, which covers Carnegie Hill.
The source of the outbreak remains under investigation.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on X: ‘Our administration is investigating a community cluster of Legionnaires’ disease in several Upper East Side neighborhoods.
‘Our [Health Department] started their investigation earlier this weekend… and community outreach has been ongoing through the July 4 weekend.’
Dr Alister F Martin, NYC Health Commissioner, added on X: ‘We advise people to monitor for flu-like symptoms and to contact a healthcare provider immediately if symptoms occur.
‘Additionally, out of an abundance of caution, anyone who visited the east side of Central Park from East 76th to East 97th Street, should also be monitoring for symptoms.’
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by a bacteria that thrives in warm and damp locations, such as air conditioning units, hot tubs, water fountains and misting devices.
It can become airborne in water vapor and then be breathed in by people, potentially triggering an infection.
Infected patients initially suffer from a headache, muscle aches and fever, before the disease also triggers a cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, confusion or other symptoms.
In severe cases, patients can suffer from severe pneumonia and the potentially fatal complication sepsis, when the bacteria spreads to the blood.
Doctors can treat the disease using antibiotics, but say that these drugs are most effective during the early stages of the disease and before its spread in the body.
Those who are over 50 years old, smoke or vape, have a chronic lung disease or a weakened immune system are at higher risk from the bacteria.
Martin added: ‘I want to acknowledge the NYC Health Department’s staff of epidemiologists, water ecologists, community health workers and many more who spent the last few days working to keep New Yorkers on the Upper East Side informed and safe.’
‘We identified the cluster early when there were just two confirmed cases, and we’ve acted swiftly and decisively, setting holiday plans aside to step up for our fellow New Yorkers.’
Nationwide, infections with Legionnaires’ disease have soared over the last two decades, rising from about 1,100 cases in 2000 to more than 8,000 today.
New York City records between 300 to 600 cases every year, according to data from the city’s health department.
Cooling towers and air conditioning units are seen in the Harlem neighborhood last year amid a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the neighborhood
In August last year, seven died and 114 people were sickened by a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Harlem. Ninety people were hospitalized.
Health officials linked the outbreak to the bacteria being in 12 cooling towers in 10 buildings, including a city-run hospital and sexual health clinic.
About 90 percent of those infected had underlying risk factors including being over 50 years old, being a smoker or having a chronic lung disease.
