6 Dead, 111 Sickened in New York City Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak

The outbreak, which started in late July, has been linked to cooling towers on 10 Harlem buildings, officials say.

Legionella pneumophila bacteria in a 1978 electron microscope image. Francis Chandler/CDC via AP

New York City officials said in an Aug. 21 update that six people have died and at least 111 have been sickened in a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in recent weeks.

Seven people were hospitalized as of Thursday with the disease, a serious form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria found in water systems, according to the city’s health department.