NEW YORK, NY — New York City health officials said two more deaths have been tied to the Upper East Side Legionnaires’ outbreak, lifting the death toll to 11. The number of confirmed cases has also climbed to 94.

The outbreak was first found early last month and led dozens of buildings in three ZIP codes to clean and disinfect cooling towers. The Health Department says the last case was diagnosed more than six weeks ago, and it now says there is no longer a risk of exposure.

City Health Update

The city’s latest update confirms both the rising death count and the growing case total. According to health officials, the outbreak has been traced to a cluster centered on the Upper East Side, where building cooling towers were inspected and cleaned after the first cases were identified.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which can spread through water systems if they become contaminated. In this case, the Health Department said the outbreak response focused on the affected buildings and the cooling towers linked to the investigation.

How It Unfolded

The outbreak came to light early last month, when the city began connecting cases in the neighborhood. That led to a wider response across three ZIP codes, with dozens of buildings ordered to disinfect cooling towers as officials looked for the likely source of exposure.

Health officials now say the timing of the most recent diagnosis suggests the immediate exposure risk has passed. Even so, the outbreak has left a significant toll, with 94 confirmed illnesses and 11 deaths recorded in the city’s count.

What Happens Next

City Council Speaker Julie Menin said the next hearing on Legionnaires’ disease is scheduled for Wednesday. That hearing is expected to give city officials another public forum to discuss the outbreak response and the steps taken so far.

For now, the Health Department says there is no longer a risk of exposure tied to this outbreak. Anyone looking for the latest public information can check the city Health Department and the council hearing schedule for further updates.

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