Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Legionella,Legionnaire's disease,Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on July 22, 2026
More deaths have been reported in NYC Legionnaires’ disease outbreak statistics. Nearly 100 people have tested positive. The case count table has been updated to reflect that, but how are these statistics calculated?
Could we continue to see more cases? More deaths?
According to the most recent NYC Department of Health Legionnaires’ disease page, more cases have been added since our last update.
85 Positive Legionnaires’ disease Cases, 8 Currently Hospitalized, 5 Deaths
Eight additional cases were added, bringing the current positive Legionnaires’ disease case count to 82.
There are still eight people currently hospitalized, but five more people have been discharged since the last update. An indication of new people being hospitalized.
The number of deaths has increased from three to five.
This NYC Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the Upper East Side has become more and more serious each day.
You may be wondering how these statistics are calculated. A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak isn’t all that different from the foodborne outbreaks we cover on the Make Food Safe Blog. Unfortunately, these outbreaks also have a bit of a reporting delay as well.
Here is what goes on behind the scenes as these totals begin making their way into reports and press releasees.
The process starts when an individual is exposed to the germ. In this case, Legionnaires’ disease. For someone in NYC right now, simply walking through the exposure area and breathing in air released from cooling tower on top of buildings can make them sick. Especially if they have certain risk factors.
In most cases, the person does not begin feeling sick right away. For Legionnaires’ disease, it can take two weeks or more to begin experiencing symptoms.
After the germ has begun taking hold in the person’s lungs, they may begin experiencing symptoms. These initial cues may not register to the person right away that they have a serious (even deadly) infection. It likely isn’t until symptoms worsen that they seek medical attention.
Those with certain risk factors have been alerted to get help faster with community notices and news reports. However, unless symptoms come on strong and severe, there are likely another few days before the person makes it to their healthcare provider.
If the sick person presents symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease during an exposure event like this NYC Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, they will likely be tested right away. If they are one of the first people sickened in an exposure event, this test may not be performed right away.
Screening results often return more quickly. If positive, the health care provider will begin specialized treatment for Legionnaires’ disease. In some cases where an outbreak is established, treatment may begin right away.
For the individual to be added to the official outbreak statistics, however, a confirmatory test must be performed.
Confirmatory tests are performed by obtaining a fresh sample, applying it to a specialized growth medium, and allowing it to incubate to see if viable Legionella bacteria grow. This process can take up to 14 days. Which delays official reporting for two weeks (or more).
Legionnaires’ disease is given mandatory reporting status. Which means when a positive result for Legionnaires’ disease is received, the results must be forwarded to the appropriate health department. In this case, the NYC Health Department.
It may still take a day for that information to be added to the public announcement page, depending on when it is reported and when the next update is scheduled. While not all jurisdictions have a reporting page, or have a reporting page for every outbreak pathogen, many do.
The New York Health Department has one specifically for Legionnaires’ disease. Sadly, this is a problem that has plagued the City for decades.
But, what exactly is Legionnaires’ disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a lung infection caused by a bacteria called Legionella. People become sick when they inhale the bacteria suspended in fine, aerosolized particles in the air. Such as the mist from cooling towers or other water fixtures like sinks, showers, decorative fountains, hot tubs, hot water tanks, and more!
Sometimes people get sick from plumbing fixtures or directly from the water supply. But most cases of Legionnaires’ disease are traced back to cooling towers. As is the case in this outbreak.
Certain groups of people are at higher risk of severe illnesses. While most normally healthy people exposed to Legionella do not become ill, the following people are more likely to become sick if exposed, and experience more severe illness if infected:
Those without these risk factors may still become sick, so it is important to test anyone developing symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease for this potentially deadly infection.
Legionnaires’ disease can only be diagnosed through specialized laboratory tests. Since it presents as typical pneumonia (even indistinguishable from pneumonia on x-rays), this illness is often underdiagnosed.
Common symptoms include:
Other Symptoms may include:
Most people begin feeling sick between two and 14 days after exposure. However, it can take longer for symptoms to appear in some cases.
If you become sick with pneumonia or flu-like symptoms after visiting, staying, or working in the Upper East Side neighborhoods exposure area, you may have Legionnaires’ disease. There are a few things you should consider to help yourself recover.
Legionnaires’ disease is deadly. Prompt treatment significantly improves possible outcomes. If you have become sick with pneumonia-like illness, seek medical attention immediately.
Do not wait!
Health care providers in the area have been notified of the community exposure situation. However, it is always important to advocate for yourself. Request a diagnostic test for Legionnaires’ disease. If your healthcare provider does not suggest one, notify them of the potential exposure risk.
If you test positive for this illness, your local health department will be notified following your diagnosis.
If you have become sick from living, working, or visiting the Upper East Side exposure area, you may have questions. An experienced Legionnaires’ disease lawyer understands your situation and can assist you through the complicated legal process.
If you or a family member has visited or stayed in the Carnegie Hill and Yorkville area and have been impacted by This Upper East Side Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Legionnaires’ disease lawyer that can help.
Call (833) 330-3663 or send an email for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Don’t wait! Call today!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)