With several reports of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in the news, and many of the Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in New York City, it seems that this is a common occurrence.
The city that never sleeps has a deadly history. We aren’t just talking about the mob. The big apple is full of buildings with a history of spreading a dangerous bacteria.
Legionella.
The germ responsible for Legionnaires’ disease.
Why does this city have such a big problem with this bacterial illness? Follow along as we explore those statistics and how it is spread.
But first, what exactly is Legionnaires’ disease anyway, and who needs to worry about it.
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by inhaling Legionella bacteria.
These microscopic germs typically live in natural water environments like lakes, streams, and rivers. They become a problem to human health when they find their way into our water systems.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 20 people exposed to Legionella bacteria will become sick.
Most people with a fairly healthy immune system do not become sick when exposed to Legionella bacteria (the bacteria responsible for Legionnaires’ disease). However, certain groups of people are at an increased risk due to existing health factors.
While the infection can be treated with antibiotics, it is a serious illness. Most infected higher risk individuals will require hospitalization to make a full recovery and 1 in 10 will die from the infection. If the illness is acquired in a healthcare facility, mortality rate jumps to 25%.
Common risk factors include:
So, how common are Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in New York City anyway?
Statistics show an average of 307 cases are identified across all New York City neighborhoods each year.
Some from small clusters of illnesses not attributable to a specific source. Others are associated with large outbreaks, resulting in significant numbers of cases and deaths.
When researching Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in New York City, I discovered several major outbreaks. Some with a handful of cases clustered around a single building or more than one in close proximity. Others with many cases.
Around half of all cases were contracted by “neither health care or travel exposure.” Infection happened where people lived and worked.
The earliest recorded report happened in 1982. This outbreak involved seven people (six patients and one hospital employee) who fell sick with Legionnaires’ disease.
The outbreak of hospital-acquired Legionnaires’ disease in Upstate New York was linked to ward showers and the hospital’s hot water system.
Many early cases involved hospital water systems. For example, in 1990, a New York City Hospital sickened several people from contaminated potable water used to wash nebulizer equipment.
In the summer of 2015, a cooling tower in the South Bronx was responsible for one of the largest and deadliest Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in New York City.
As a matter of fact, it is likely one of the largest Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in the history of the United States.
There were 138 cases and 16 deaths reported. Cases were primarily associated with a South Bronx hotel and a nearby homeless shelter.
In 2016, a building in Queens was linked to a cluster of illnesses.
At least two confirmed cases were linked to the area of 20-02, 20-04, 20-06, 20-08, 20-10, and 20-12 Seagirt Boulevard.
In 2018, a Washington Heights neighborhood was plagued with a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases. At least 11 people, 10 of which were hospitalized, fell sick with this deadly illness.
Patient interviews pointed to exposure from buildings between 145th and 155th streets.
In 2019, New York City Department Health announced that at least two Legionnaires’ disease cases were linked to the Bronx River Houses in the past year.
While this cluster of illnesses only accounted for a few cases spread out, it is an indication of some type of lingering Legionella contamination.
In 2021, At least 18 cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported. Initial reports indicate that New York City Health Department narrowed the source to three buildings who tested positive for the bacteria.
A patient sample was a genetic match to one of those cooling towers.
In 2022, at least 30 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported the Highbridge neighborhood, located in the Bronx. Two people died.
Several cooling towers were tested for this deadly germ. Four towers were positive for the outbreak strain.
In 2024, at least two cases of Legionnaires’ disease were associated with a Bronx housing complex called Langston Hughs. Two people from two different buildings fell sick with this deadly pneumonia bacterial infection.
This year, an outbreak associated with a neighborhood in Central Harlem has come on quickly. So quickly, the number of people impacted may surpass the 2015 Bronx hotel outbreak.
Case counts are rising with every new update. As of August 11, 2025, there have been 90 confirmed cases of Legionnaries’ disease. At least 17 people remain hospitalized. Three people have died.
This Legionnaires’ disease outbreak is still under investigation.
If you have been impacted by Legionnaires’ disease illness, it is a good idea to consult an experienced Legionnaires’ disease Lawyer.
A Legionnaires’ disease Lawyer can help you through this difficult process. Gathering evidence and reports for your claim, investigating the source of your illness, and ensuring you receive the proper care to recover from your illness.
If you wish to pursue a legal claim for financial compensation to cover medical expenses, lost work, caring for a loved one, or other burdens associated with Legionnaires’ disease illness, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Legionnaires’ disease Lawyer that can help.
Legionnaires’ disease is a preventable illness. This type of illness spreads when lapses in required maintenance allow the growth of this harmful microorganism.
Call (833) 330-3663 or send us an email for a free, no obligation consultation. A member of our compassionate team will go over the details of your case.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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