NYC Health Officials Order 76 Buildings to Clean Their Cooling Towers as Legionella Outbreak Spreads

Schools, Nursing Homes, and Met Museum Among Buildings Ordered to Clean Cooling Towers After Another 45 People Tested Positive for Legionella Bacteria

UPPER EAST SIDE, MANHATTAN (July 15, 2026) – The NYC Department of Health has ordered another 45 buildings to clean their cooling towers to help contain the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.

This new order has brought the total number of buildings ordered to be cleaned to 76. Some of the buildings included in the order are nursing homes, schools, and the Met Museum.

NYC requires that building owners test cooling towers for Legionella bacteria every 31 days. The number of people sickened by the outbreak has climbed to 63.

An estimated 15 people have required hospitalization. Most of the Legionella outbreaks over the past 40 years have been concentrated in Harlem and the Bronx.

Health officials encourage anyone that is displaying pneumonia-like symptoms to seek medical attention as early as possible.

Liability for NYC Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks

Property owners in NYC have a legal obligation to maintain their premises and a reasonably safe condition. This must be done for the sake of all persons on a property whose presence is reasonably foreseeable. Maintaining a safe premises necessarily requires that certain steps are taken to prevent infectious disease outbreaks. There are a number of different measures that property owners should take to prevent the spread of Legionnaires’ disease.

• Water Management: Property owners should develop a formal water management program and conduct periodic tests on cooling systems throughout their building.
• Water Temperatures: Property owners should follow CDC guidelines and store hot water above 140°.
• Water Circulation: Property owners should do everything in their power to maintain hot water circulation when necessary.
• Disinfectant: Property owners should monitor disinfectant levels of the water in their building.

When a property owner fails to take reasonable measures to prevent a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, they could be held legally responsible through a civil action. Among other things, property owners must ensure that their cooling towers are periodically inspected. Legionnaires’ disease tends to grow when water is between 77 Fahrenheit and 113 Fahrenheit. Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous liable parties for any Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks. This includes a third-party company that was in charge of maintenance for water cooling systems.

Steps to Take After Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks

Legionnaires’ disease is contracted after a person comes in contact with the bacteria. It is a type of severe pneumonia. They can grow in the cooling towers of large buildings. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “In general, reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been increasing since the early 2000s, with a peak in 2018. While reported cases dropped during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, they rebounded in 2021.” It is important that people who contract Legionnaires’ disease take certain steps to protect their health and legal rights.

• Victims should seek medical attention as early as possible. Legionnaires’ disease can be deadly for people who are older or who have preexisting medical conditions.
• Victims should keep a copy of all of their medical records. These can be important to establishing the damages that a person has incurred.
• Victims should contact an experienced personal injury attorney as early as possible. An attorney can take steps to preserve evidence and make sure your rights are being protected.

The vast majority of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks are preventable. They tend to be the consequence of numerous safety lapses. This includes situations where building owners are not maintaining cooling towers at safe temperatures. Unfortunately, property owners are not likely to admit fault if bacteria grows in their building. This is why it is so important that victims carefully consider their legal options with an attorney. Any person that is injured by Legionnaires’ disease may be able to pursue some measure of accountability through a personal injury claim.

Investigating Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks

We at GLK Law extend our best wishes to all of the people who have been affected by the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City. There needs to be a thorough investigation into all of the potential factors and parties that may have contributed to the outbreak. Safety should always be the top priority of every building owner. But far too often this is not the case.

Have you or a loved one been harmed after contracting Legionnaires’ disease in New York City? Are you facing mounting medical bills or other hardships? You may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Our team of experienced attorneys can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know if you have a claim that can move forward. Whether you just have a few questions or are wondering how an attorney might be able to help with your specific situation, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.