Legionnaires' Town Hall Is Set As Cases Continue To Climb On The Upper East Side

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — As the number of Legionnaires' disease cases continues to spike in Carnegie Hill and Yorkville, health officials are hosting another town hall on Monday night to answer New Yorkers' questions.

The virtual town hall, hosted by Dr. Alister Martin, the city health commissioner, begins at 6 p.m. Monday. The meeting will be hosted on Zoom.

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The outbreak of Legionnaires' disease emerged on July 2 and has been concentrated in ZIP codes 10028, 10128 and 10075, officials from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said.

The health department tested 183 cooling towers in the neighborhood, and 31 of them tested positive for the Legionella bacteria, including The Guggenheim Museum.

As of Monday morning, 59 people are sickened by Legionnaires' disease on the Upper East Side.

Fifteen of those people are currently hospitalized, 19 people have been discharged and are now recovering at home, while 11 were not hospitalized, officials said.

Legionnaires’ disease, a type of pneumonia, is caused by bacteria called Legionella that thrive in humid environments, such as cooling towers, which cycle warm air through water.

The disease spreads by inhaling contaminated mist, officials said. Drinking tap water, showering, and using the air conditioner are all safe, officials said. Masks are not shown to protect from infection, officials said.

Upper East Siders experiencing flu-like symptoms — such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing — should contact a healthcare provider immediately.

To attend the town hall, click here.

This is a developing story and will be updated. For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.

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