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 August 11, 2026
The New York City Health Department is investigating reports of Legionella at High Line Hotel. This involvement comes after the hotel workers union, the New York Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, got involved.
Following the deadly Upper East Side Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak involving cooling towers and plumbing issues contributing to the Haven Plaza Legionnaires’ disease cluster, it is no surprise that people are concerned about this lung infection. Particularly when it is impacting cooling towers that can spread the germ to nearby buildings and spew the deadly bacteria into the breathing air of people walking down the street.
People are worried.
Justifiably.
Especially those who work in the area, as they are there all day many days a week.
Here’s what we know so far about the developing story involving Legionella at High Line Hotel!
The High Line Hotel sits between 10th Avenue and West 20th Street at 180 10th Avenue in the Chelsea area of New York.
The 60 room hotel is just a one-minute walk to the High Line Park that attracts 20,000 to 30,000 visitors a day. It is just a 6-minute walk to the popular Chelsea Market, another popular location for tourists and locals alike.
A problem in this area is certainly significant to those who work there every day. However, people walking past and working, visiting, or living in the area are also exposed.
According to representatives from the New York Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, workers have expressed concerns that multiple Legionella tests conducted by hotel management have returned positive. Yet no significant action has taken place.
One test during the summer reportedly detected 170 cfu/mL (colony-forming units per mililiter) of Legionella.
To put that into perspective, a finding of 10 cfu/mL requires disinfection protocols.
The Union pressed hotel management to confirm remediation following these findings. Workers threatened to walk off the job and the Council took the matter to arbitration.
After which, High Line Hotel management released the results of a test conducted on July 23, 2026. The value was a significant 700 cfu/mL of Legionella.
Now the New York City Department of Health are getting involved.
A spokesperson for the Health Department said:
“Protecting the health and safety of New Yorkers is our top priority. The Health Department received a complaint regarding the maintenance of a cooling tower at this location on August 6 and acted immediately to ensure local laws and regulations are being followed. We’ve made contact with both hotel management and the union representing workers and all parties are cooperating to ensure the proper steps are being followed to prevent bacteria growth and protect public health. All New Yorkers and hotel guests are able to continue to use the building systems without interruption.”
So far, no illnesses have been reported following the detection of Legionella at High Line Hotel. However, that does not mean that there are none.
Connecting illnesses to an exposure source is not simple. Particularly in those visiting the city from other places in the country (or even across the world). Travel related Legionnaires’ disease often do not get reported. Much of the time, without a known exposure, Legionnaires’ disease is attributed to typical pneumonia and treated as such. This can delay recovery and impacts outbreak discovery.
As more information becomes available and guests are potentially contacted to notify them of exposure risk, we may see this status change.
Legionella is the bacterium responsible for Legionnaires’ disease. It is a naturally occurring microorganism in freshwater environments. Places like lakes and streams. The risk of exposure in these environments, however, is rather small.
The real problem comes when the bacteria grow and spread in human-made water systems.
Cooling towers used for centralized air-cooling systems for buildings or other industrial processes are the most common modern mode of Legionella infection. Though there are other water sources of exposure.
Large, complex plumbing systems or those with dead pipes where construction is in progress allow bacteria to grow and spread. Hot water tanks and hot water heaters provide a happy, warm environment and a place to hang out, leading to potential Legionella bacterial growth. Shower heads and sink faucets as well as hot tubs provide modes of exposure. Even decorative fountains and water features that can be found in both indoor and outdoor locations.
Legionnaires’ disease is not generally spread from person to person. This method of infection occurs in extremely rare and specific circumstances.
People become infected with Legionella bacteria by breathing in contaminated water droplets caused by aerosolized water in the air. A process naturally created by cooling towers. Which is why cooling towers are the most common source of Legionnaires’ disease.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 20 people exposed to Legionella bacteria will become sick. Rates of illness are high. And so is mortality rate. An unfortunate 1 in 10 will die from their infection.
This rises to one in four if the infection is acquired in a health care setting.
Most healthy individuals do not fall ill after being exposed to Legionella bacteria. However, certain groups of people are at an increased risk. While the infection can be treated with antibiotics, it is a serious illness. Most will require hospitalization to make a full recovery.
Common risk factors include:
If you have been exposed to Legionella at High Line Hotel, you should monitor for symptoms for 2 weeks after your potential exposure.
Common symptoms include typical pneumonia symptoms such as acute onset of lower respiratory illness with fever and/or cough.
Other symptoms may include:
Diagnosis is particularly tricky, as Legionnaires’ disease often presents like other pnuemonial illnesses. It can even be indistinguishable on a chest x-ray. Specialized tests are required to identify a Legionella bacterial infection.
If you or a loved one becomes sick with Legionnaires’ disease following exposure to Legionella at High Line Hotel, it is a good idea to get legal advice from an experienced Legionnaires’ disease lawyer.
If you or a loved one has become sick from exposure to Legionella at High Line Hotel and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help!
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC specializes in Legionnaires’ disease cases and has helped countless families receive the justice they deserve.
According to the CDC, nine out of ten healthcare-associated outbreaks could have been prevented with effective water management.
Becoming sick from negligence can be a costly and potentially fatal outcome.
Call (833) 330-3663 or send us an email for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation and determine if you have a legal case.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)