Legionnaires’ Disease Kills Eight in NYC

New York City reports its eighth victim of Legionnaires’ disease in the past month. Nearly 100 people have been hospitalized.

Written byJef Akst

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Colorized scanning electron micrograph of Legionella pneumophila bacteriaWIKIMEDIA, CDCSince July 10, 97 people have been hospitalized and diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease in New York City (NYC), and eight have died, making it the worst outbreak of the disease in the city’s history, NBC News and others reported.

The outbreak appears to be stemming from water-cooling towers that are central components of modern ventilation systems. Health officials found Legionella bacteria at five towers around the city, including Lincoln Hospital and the Concourse Plaza shopping center near Yankee Stadium. All five towers have been disinfected and must outline plans to prevent reemergence of the bacteria. In addition, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday (August 3) that the city would be putting together a “comprehensive package” of new legislation designed to prevent future outbreaks, USA Today reported. Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks “have become far too common over the past 10 years, and the city will respond not by only addressing an outbreak as it occurs, but with a new plan to help prevent these ...

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Meet the Author

Jef Akst
Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
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