76 Upper East Side buildings test positive for Legionella in NYC outbreak

New York, NY — An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease on Manhattan's Upper East Side has expanded, with preliminary testing revealing that 76 buildings have tested positive for Legionella bacteria, according to multiple news reports.

Key Developments

• 76 buildings across the Upper East Side have tested positive for Legionella bacteria in preliminary testing.
• The outbreak has reached 60 confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease.
• New cases are reportedly slowing, according to health officials.
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art is among the buildings where positive tests were found.

Cooling Towers and Source Investigation

Dozens of New York cooling towers have tested positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease. Health authorities are investigating cooling towers as a potential source of the outbreak, as these systems are known to spread the bacteria through aerosolized water droplets.

What to Know

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Health officials continue to monitor the situation and urge residents to be aware of symptoms, which include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and muscle aches.

Sources: Patch, ABC7 New York, NBC News, CNN, NBC New York