New York City Health Department Supplies Replace on Neighborhood Cluster of Legionnaires’ Disease

Ninety-two circumstances have been recognized within the space; three deaths have occurred

Twelve cooling towers have examined tradition constructive for reside Legionella micro organism

Eleven of the twelve cooling towers have been remediated; the ultimate tower is required to be accomplished by August 15

August 14, 2025 — Today, the New York City Health Department supplied an replace on the investigation right into a neighborhood cluster of Legionnaires’ illness in Central Harlem (ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039). Ninety-two individuals have been recognized with Legionnaires’ illness since July 25 when the cluster was first recognized. Three individuals have died, and 15 persons are at the moment hospitalized. The NYC Health Department has confirmed that 12 cooling towers have examined tradition constructive on 10 buildings for reside Legionella micro organism. Eleven of the 12 cooling towers have accomplished remediation. The last cooling tower remediation is required to be accomplished August 15. These cooling towers are situated at:

• BRP Companies, Lafayette Development LLC, 2239 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd Manhattan, NY 10037
• BVK, 215 W one hundred and twenty fifth St Manhattan, NY 10027
• Commonwealth Local Development, 301 West 124th St, Manhattan, NY 10035
• CUNY – City College Marshak Science Building, 181 Convent Ave, Manhattan, NY 10031
• Harlem Center Condo, 317 Lenox Ave, Manhattan, NY 10030
• NYC Economic Development Corporation, 40 West 137th St, Manhattan, NY 10037
• NYC Health Department Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic, 2238 fifth Ave, Manhattan, NY 10030
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, 506 Lenox Ave, Manhattan, NY 10037
• The New York Hotel Trades Council Harlem Health Center,133 Morningside Ave, Manhattan, NY 10027
• Wharton Properties, 100 W one hundred and twenty fifth St Manhattan, NY 10027 (3 of 8 towers)

“Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this cluster of Legionnaires, in particulate the friends and loved ones of the three New Yorkers we lost to this disease,” mentioned New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “As of today, 11 of the 12 cooling towers in Central Harlem that tested positive for Legionella bacteria have completed remediation, and by tomorrow, all towers will have completed remediations. New Yorkers should know the air is safe to breathe, and we are seeing declining numbers of new cases each day. I want to thank the health workers who worked tirelessly to treat this community and make sure its residents are healthy. We will continue to share updates, and we encourage anyone with flu-like symptoms to seek medical help immediately.”

“As the city’s doctor, I want all New Yorkers to know this Legionnaires’ cluster in Central Harlem is the top priority of the New York City Health Department. We are working with the Mayor’s Office, Central Harlem elected officials, our community partners, and health care providers to ensure New Yorkers are fully informed of this evolving cluster,” mentioned Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “The excellent news is that new circumstances have begun to say no, which signifies that the sources of the micro organism have been contained. Our knowledgeable inspectors will proceed to work with constructing homeowners to make sure full compliance. New Yorkers who reside or work within the recognized ZIP codes and have flu-like signs ought to contact a well being care supplier as quickly as potential for well timed prognosis and remedy for the most effective probability at an excellent consequence.”

New Yorkers who reside or work in one of many recognized ZIP codes in Central Harlem with flu-like signs, cough, fever, or issue respiration ought to search medical consideration instantly. Individuals at increased threat embrace these ages 50 and above, cigarette people who smoke, and other people with persistent lung illness or compromised immune programs. The threat is just not elevated for individuals who reside or work within the buildings recognized with constructive tradition checks. The threat is to anybody who spends time within the neighborhood as a result of the micro organism journey exterior the buildings into the encompassing space.

The NYC Health Department has required constructing homeowners to conduct remediation to all of the constructive cooling towers, together with preliminary PCR constructive towers and confirmed tradition constructive towers. The NYC Health Department continues to investigate the cooling tower samples to attempt to determine if any of them had been a supply.

PCR Positive vs Culture Positive

At the beginning of the investigation, the NYC Health Department conducts a preliminary speedy PCR check to determine traces of the Legionella micro organism on all cooling towers within the investigation space. These micro organism could also be alive or useless. Dead micro organism can’t make individuals sick. The NYC Health Department directs all towers with preliminary PCR constructive outcomes to remediate inside 24 hours by including or altering chemical compounds used to kill the micro organism in an effort to chop off the supply or sources of the micro organism as quick as potential.

The NYC Health Department’s Public Health Lab additionally conducts tradition testing on all samples collected from all of the cooling towers within the investigation space to detect any confirmed Legionella pneumophila progress. Culture testing takes two weeks to develop and is the gold commonplace because it detects the presence of Legionella micro organism that may trigger sickness. Where there are constructive tradition check outcomes, the NYC Health Department requires homeowners to remediate the cooling tower by totally cleansing and disinfecting the entire cooling tower system.

Determining The Source

The NYC Health Department’s investigation on the supply chargeable for Legionnaires’ illness in Central Harlem remains to be underway. Our Public Health Lab consultants are evaluating the DNA within the cultures grown from the cooling towers to the DNA within the cultures from sufferers. Molecular evaluation of Legionella micro organism from sufferers and cooling tower specimens will assist the NYC Health Department decide a potential match.

For extra info, see the NYC Health Department’s Legionnaires’ Disease webpage.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Press Office PressOffice@well being.nyc.gov