Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in the South Bronx Comes Just Weeks After Health Officials Declared an End to Deadly Manhattan Outbreak
SOUTH BRONX, NEW YORK (September 12, 2026) – One person has tragically died after an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the South Bronx.
This outbreak comes shortly after a second deadly outbreak across Manhattan. That outbreak led to the deaths of 11 people and resulted in many more requiring hospitalization.
New York City health department officials are continuing to sample cooling towers across the South Bronx to determine the source of the outbreak. Previous clusters of Legionnaires’ disease across Manhattan have been associated with mist produced by cooling towers.
Legionnaires’ disease is a form of severe pneumonia that is caused by exposure to legionella bacteria. It typically grows in warm water systems.
This is why it is so important that apartment complexes and businesses regularly test their cooling towers and water systems for Legionella bacteria.
Liability for South Bronx Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks
Property owners across New York City have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This necessitates that they take reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. There are particular requirements with respect to protecting against Legionnaires’ disease. Administrative Code § 17-194.1 and 24 RCNY require that property owners sample cooling towers every 31 days. Property owners should take a number of other actions to prevent Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks.
- Property owners should develop and maintain a written program that addresses water treatment, cleaning, and disinfection.
- Property owners must maintain all of the records related to the treatment and maintenance of their water systems.
- Property owners should understand the factors that lead to outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease.
- Property owners should conduct routine audits of their water system to ensure compliance with all relevant safety standards.
When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition on their premises, they must take action. Failing to take action to address a dangerous condition could form the basis of a premises liability claim. Consider, for example, Johnson v. Albany Memorial Hospital, 237 A.D.2d 833 (N.Y. App. Div. 3d Dep’t 1997). A hospital patient contracted Legionnaires’ disease that was ultimately linked back to the hospital’s own hot water system. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the hospital was negligent in its maintenance of the hot water system, which allowed legionella bacteria to grow in the first place.
Steps to Take After Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks
Legionnaires’ disease remains a growing public safety threat across New York City and the United States. The Centers for Disease Control did an investigation of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks from 2015 through 2019. One of the things that they found was that 43% of the outbreaks involved major deficiencies in the properties’ water management systems. They also found that roughly 82% of the outbreaks involved environmental deficiencies related to controlling the growth or spread of legionella bacteria. There are multiple steps that should be taken after any Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks.
- The source of the outbreak should be determined.
- The company or companies responsible for maintaining the water at the property should be understood.
- All of the medical records related to the incident should be collected and preserved.
- Victims should carefully consider their legal options with a team experienced in personal injury law.
Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks tend to be highly preventable. In many situations, they are the consequence of major deficiencies related to cleaning and maintaining water at any building. Unfortunately, many property owners are more concerned with saving as much money as possible, even if this comes at the cost of safety. Any person that is hospitalized by Legionnaires’ disease may be able to pursue some measure of accountability through a personal injury claim. The surviving family members of any person who died are also able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim.
Getting Legal Help After a Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak
We at GLK Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man who died in the South Bronx Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. It is deeply concerning that there is already another outbreak just a few weeks after the last deadly outbreak in Manhattan. City officials need to do the right thing and consider additional options to prevent these recurring deadly outbreaks.
Have you or a loved one been harmed in a New York City Legionnaires’ disease outbreak? You may have legal recourse. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys is here to help you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
