One person has died in connection with the cluster that has sickened 67 people since early July, officials said.
4:05 AM
One person has died in connection with the Legionnaires' disease outbreak on Manhattan's Upper East Side, New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin announced Friday evening.
"I am saddened to report that one person has died in connection with the Legionnaires' disease community cluster on the Upper East Side," Martin said in a statement. "My deepest condolences are with their loved ones, and out of respect to their personal privacy, we will not be releasing any additional information on the individual."
As of Thursday night, 67 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease in the cluster. Twelve patients are currently hospitalized, while 43 others who were previously hospitalized have since been discharged. Another 12 patients did not require hospitalization.
The outbreak was first reported on July 3. Officials have not yet determined the exact source of the outbreak, though authorities believe the cases are connected with bacteria found in building cooling towers on the Upper East Side.
Last week, the Health Department released a preliminary list of buildings with cooling towers that tested positive for Legionella bacteria in initial PCR screening. According to officials, cooling towers in 76 buildings on the Upper East Side tested positive for the bacteria. City officials ordered all affected buildings to immediately clean and disinfect their cooling towers.
"All have confirmed that they completed the required remediation," Martin said. Health officials emphasized that a positive PCR test does not confirm that a building is the source of the outbreak.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who represents the Upper East Side, issued a statement following the announcement. "This news is heartbreaking, and the individual's loved ones are in my thoughts during this incredibly difficult time," Menin said. "As this outbreak continues to impact our community, we must remain focused on the health and safety of our neighbors."
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