New York City Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Leads to 99 Cases With 17 Confirmed Hospitalizations
NEW YORK, NEW YORK (August 17, 2025) – At least four people have died in a New York City Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, according to the NYC Department of Health.
New York City officials are saying that the outbreak has been traced to 12 cooling towers across 10 buildings. Investigators found bacteria growing in those towers.
All of the towers associated with the outbreak were located in Harlem. A total of four people in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood have tragically died as a result of the outbreak.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that the situation is under control.
Legionnaires’ disease is an aggressive and potentially deadly pneumonia that is caused by Legionella bacteria. It is typically contracted by inhaling water droplets contaminated with the bacteria.
Common Causes of Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks
Many people are injured in Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks every year. According to OSHA, “Around 6,000 Legionnaires’ disease cases are reported each year in the United States. However, scientists believe the reported totals are much lower than the actual cases due in part to the difficulty in distinguishing Legionnaires’ disease from other types of pneumonia.” There are many different causes of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks.
- Poorly maintained cooling systems
- Hot water systems may become contaminated
- Decorative water features such as fountains or humidifiers
- Whirlpools kept at warm temperatures
Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks are highly preventable for the most part. Property owners should develop a water management plan. This is particularly important for facilities that have complex housing, hospitals, and nursing homes. Hot water temperatures inside of storage tanks should be kept at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Liability for Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks
Depending on the facts of any case, a property owner could face civil liability for a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain their properties in a reasonably safe condition. When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition, they must take action. There are numerous ways that a property owner may have acted negligently and contributed to an outbreak.
- A property owner may fail to maintain water systems by not regularly cleaning and disinfecting fluid towers.
- A property owner may have kept water inside of cooling towers at temperatures that were too low to kill Legionella bacteria.
- A property owner may not have flushed pipes or outlets after they’ve gone through periods of low use.
- A property owner may have failed to maintain industry standards related to water management plans.
It can be hard to know what to do after becoming ill from Legionella bacteria. Victims may become seriously ill. Certain populations are at serious risk of dying if they become sick. To make matters worse, property owners will virtually never accept responsibility if they cause an outbreak. This is why it is so important that victims seek the guidance of an experienced personal injury attorney.
Getting Legal Help for a Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak
We at GLK Law extend our deepest condolences to all of the families who lost loved ones in this outbreak. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the New York Department of Health. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that other tragedies may be prevented.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a New York City Legionnaires’ disease outbreak? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that victims are aware of their rights and that property owners are held fully accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
