By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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MONDAY, Aug. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) \u2014 A Legionnaires\u2019 disease outbreak in Central Harlem has now caused four deaths and sickened 101 people, New York City health officials confirmed.<\/p>\n
The bacteria that cause the illness, called Legionella<\/em>, were found in 12 cooling towers across 10 buildings, including NYC Health + Hospitals\/Harlem.<\/p>\n Cooling towers help regulate temperature in large buildings, but if they are not cleaned properly, bacteria can grow and spread through mist in the air.<\/p>\n \u201cAs of today, 11 of the 12 cooling towers in Central Harlem that tested positive for Legionella<\/em> bacteria have completed remediation, and by tomorrow, all towers will have completed remediations,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams<\/a> said on Aug. 14. “New Yorkers should know the air is safe to breathe, and we are seeing declining numbers of new cases each day.”<\/p>\n The New York City Department of Health<\/a> also stressed that building plumbing systems are separate from cooling towers, meaning that tap water is safe to drink and use.<\/p>\n \u201cThis community outbreak is not related to a building\u2019s hot or cold water supply. Residents in these ZIP codes can continue to drink water, bathe, shower, cook, and use their air conditioner,\u201d the department said.<\/p>\n The city announced the outbreak on July 25. Since then, 11 cooling towers in the area tested positive for Legionella pneumophila<\/em>, a strain of the bacteria.<\/p>\n Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse<\/a> said inspectors continue to work with building owners to ensure proper testing and cleaning, CNN <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n \u201cThe good news is that new cases have begun to decline, which indicates that the sources of the bacteria have been contained,\u201d Morse told CNN<\/em>. \u201cNew Yorkers who live or work in the identified ZIP codes and have flu-like symptoms should contact a health care provider as soon as possible for timely diagnosis and treatment for the best chance at a good outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n Legionnaires\u2019 disease is a type of pneumonia, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says.<\/p>\n Symptoms can include: Cough, fever, headaches, muscles aches and shortness of breath.<\/p>\n The infection can be treated with antibiotics. Left untreated, it may lead to serious complications like lung failure or death.<\/p>\n The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 10% of people who get Legionnaires\u2019 die from it. Older adults and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The Mayo Clinic has more on symptoms and causes of Legionnaires’ disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n