Two people have now died in the Legionnaires' disease outbreak centered on Manhattan's Upper East Side, and the case count has climbed to 72 as of Saturday evening, July 19, 2026, with 9 people still hospitalized, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Legionella bacteria, which causes the severe form of pneumonia responsible for these deaths, has been detected in cooling towers across 76 buildings in the neighborhood, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, famed private schools, and luxury apartment buildings.
No single building has been confirmed as the source of the outbreak. All affected buildings have been ordered to clean, drain, and disinfect their cooling towers. City officials said data indicate that the source of exposure has likely been eliminated, but the investigation is ongoing.
