NYC Reports Second Death in Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak in South Bronx

New York officials reported last night that a second person has died of Legionnaires’ disease due to an outbreak in South Bronx.

The New York City Health Department is continuing its investigation and containment efforts to address a community cluster of the disease in parts of Melrose and Morrisania (ZIP codes 10451 and 10456).

As of last evening, 14 people had tested positive and one remained in the hospital.

The health department launched an investigation on September 10 after identifying the cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases. The health department said it sampled all 24 cooling towers in the area.

On September 12, the city found that 10 cooling towers tested positive for the presence of Legionella bacteria through an initial PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test. This test can detect the presence of Legionella bacteria but does not confirm that a cooling tower is the source of exposure.

The city ordered the 10 cooling towers in the South Bronx to be cleaned and disinfected. Among them was a cooling tower at 1 E. 161st St., which is the address of Yankee Stadium. The Yankees have said none of the current Legionnaires’ disease cases in the area has been linked to the stadium.

The city is also conducting culture testing to determine whether live Legionella bacteria were present when the samples were collected. Culture results can take up to two weeks.

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by Legionella bacteria that grow in warm water. The disease spreads through water vapor that contains the bacteria. It is a type of pneumonia that causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, muscle aches, and cough. People may contract the disease by inhaling contaminated water droplets, but it doesn’t spread person-to-person.

Legionnaires’ disease is treatable but about 10% of patients die from it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The city has urged anyone who lives, works, or has visited the South Bronx area since late August and develops flu-like symptoms to contact a health care provider immediately.

This Legionnaires’ disease emergency follows one in July on the Upper East Side in which more than 90 cases and seven deaths were reported.

The department said it has completed all annual inspections in 2025 and is on schedule to complete annual inspections for 2026. Citywide, 82% of cooling tower systems are in compliance with the monthly testing requirement, according to the city.