A sixth person has died from the Legionnaires’ disease cluster that rattled the Upper East Side — though no new cases of the bacterial illness have been reported in nearly two weeks, health officials announced Tuesday.
“Heartbreakingly, I’ve just learned that a sixth person has died in connection with the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on the Upper East Side,” City Council Speaker Julie Menin wrote in a statement on X.
My thoughts are with their family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” said Menin, who represents the upper Manhattan nabe.
No new cases of the pneumonia-like illness have been reported since July 17, and the latest data suggests the outbreak has “significantly” slowed.
“While there have been no new reported cases in nearly two weeks and the latest data suggests the outbreak has significantly slowed, every loss is a devastating reminder of the toll this outbreak has had on our community,” Menin wrote.
A total of 90 people have been sickened by the potentially fatal illness, with 77 cooling towers testing positive for the presence of Legionella bacteria since July 2, according to the New York City Health Department.
Major city attractions including The Met, the Guggenheim Museum, a Marriott Hotel, and All Souls Church all had cooling towers that tested positive, according to the department.
City officials ordered all buildings that returned positive screening results to clean and disinfect their systems as part of the investigation.
All required remediations were completed by July 16.
Six people still remain hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease, authorities said.
Health officials announced the fifth death from the outbreak last Tuesday.
The sickness is a deadly type of pneumonia that causes flu-like symptoms and can be treated with antibiotics if caught early.
Those who are ages 50 or older, smoke or vape, have chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver disease, or diabetes, or a weakened immune system are at a higher risk of complications from the illness.
