NY State EP Alert 8.15.2025|Legionnaires’ Disease Update
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) continues to investigate a cluster of Legionnaires’ Disease in a Central Harlem neighborhood. Those in ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039 along with bordering communities are advised to take note. As of August 15, 2025, there have been 99 cases confirmed, and 17 patients are currently hospitalized, which is fewer hospitalizations than last week. The outbreak’s death toll has risen to four.
DOHMH confirmed on August 14, 2025, that it had actively tested water from all cooling towers in that area and that 12 cooling towers in 10 buildings had a positive culture result for live Legionella bacteria. Per reports late yesterday, 11 of the 12 towers had completed remediation and the final tower was to be completed today, August 15, 2025.
DOHMH notes that all towers showing any sign of contamination (live or dead bacteria) at the start of the investigation were cleaned and treated within 24 hours. Complete remediation of the live bacteria involves fully cleaning and disinfecting the whole cooling tower system. This measure is only taken after positive culture results are obtained, which takes about two weeks. The primary building source of the outbreak has not yet been identified.
Tower Locations
The cooling towers undergoing remediation following the positive Legionella culture include educational, residential, and health care locations. The towers are located at:
- BRP Companies, Lafayette Development LLC, 2239 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd Manhattan, NY 10037
- BVK, 215 W 125th 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 5th 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 125th St Manhattan, NY 10027 (3 of 8 towers)
Information for Home Care Providers
In addition to cooling towers and the evaporative condensers of large air-conditioning systems, other favorable areas for Legionella growth include spas, hot tubs, humidifiers, and hot water tanks. This is not a plumbing system issue. People in these ZIP codes can continue to drink water, bathe, shower, cook, and use their air conditioners. Window air conditioners do not spread the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease.
HCP urges members to alert their patients and staff in the affected area to seek immediate medical attention if they exhibit fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, or shortness of breath. This type of pneumonia can be mistaken for the flu but is NOT contagious (meaning it is not spread from person to person) and is treatable with antibiotics when caught early. The disease is only transmitted by breathing in water vapor contaminated with Legionella bacteria.
Many home care patients are likely to be more susceptible to infection. Those aged 50 and older and those with chronic lung diseases need to be mindful of their increased risk and report symptoms promptly. People with compromised immune systems are also at higher risk. Remind patients that air conditioner use is safe and staying cool is critical to preventing heat-related illnesses.