Legionnaires’ disease found in NYC cooling towers

NEW YORK, NY, August 7 -- RSES Journal has learned that Legionella pneumophila bacteria has been found in cooling towers in New York City's Central Harlem district. Word of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease was first reported August 1, and is a reminder to commercial HVAC contractors to exercise due diligence in maintaining cooling towers that are under their supervision. Three people have died and 67 have become sick with flu-like symptoms. At its worst, the disease causes life-threatening pneumonia. Legionella bacteria can be enter the human body through water vapor.

In addition to cooling towers, investigators took water samples from other warm-water systems such as hot tubs, hot water tanks, large air conditioning condensing systems, whirlpool spas and humidifiers. Building owners whose buildings showed positive screening results in cooling towers have been instructed by The Health Department to begin remediation within 24 hours. 

The cluster of 22 people diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease since Friday, July 25, is from the Central Harlem neighborhood (ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039) and bordering communities, according to an investigation.

See ASHRAE Guideline 12-2023 for recommended Legionella control practices. 

In addition, the Center for Disease Control has published numerous Legionella control practices. Enter this in your browser: cdc.gov/control-legionella/php/toolkit/cooling-towers.