🦠 Two Dead as Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak Grows in Harlem
**HARLEM, NYC – August 5, 2025** —
A **rapidly expanding outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease** in Harlem has resulted in **two deaths** and at least **58 confirmed infections**, according to New York City health officials.
The outbreak, centered in upper Manhattan, has triggered an urgent public health investigation as more cases continue to emerge. Health experts believe the bacteria responsible — *Legionella* — is spreading through **contaminated water systems**, such as **cooling towers or building plumbing**.
> “We are working quickly to identify the source and prevent further illness,” said a spokesperson from the NYC Department of Health.
CBS News New York's **Natalie Duddridge** reports that the city has deployed teams to **inspect cooling systems** in the affected area and alert residents about potential symptoms, which include **fever, cough, muscle aches, and shortness of breath**.
The majority of those infected are older adults or individuals with **weakened immune systems**, who are more vulnerable to severe respiratory illness. Legionnaires' disease is **not transmitted person-to-person** but can be deadly if left untreated.
### What You Should Know:
* **Legionnaires’ disease** is a serious lung infection caused by inhaling mist contaminated with *Legionella* bacteria.
* Common sources include **cooling towers, hot tubs, showers, and air-conditioning units** in large buildings.
* Symptoms often resemble **pneumonia** and typically develop within 2–10 days of exposure.
Officials are urging Harlem residents with flu-like symptoms to **seek medical care immediately**. Water systems in surrounding buildings are being tested and disinfected as a precaution.
This is one of the **largest Legionnaires’ outbreaks in New York** in recent years. A similar outbreak in the Bronx in 2015 led to 12 deaths and over 120 cases.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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