Legionnaires' Death Toll Climbs To 6 In Harlem, Officials Say

HARLEM, NY — A sixth person has died from Legionnaires' disease in Harlem on Friday, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported.

The city first detected the outbreak on July 25 in Central Harlem, Patch previously reported. Since then, 111 people have been sickened, according to city data. As of Friday, 7 people were hospitalized.

Legionnaires’ disease, a type of pneumonia, is caused by bacteria called Legionella that thrives in warm water environments, like cooling towers, which create cold air by cycling warm air through water, creating a warm, humid environment within the system.

In Harlem, 12 buildings had cooling towers that tested positive for legionella bacteria in five ZIP codes: 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039. All have since been remediated, officials said.

City officials urge anyone who has been in the area since late July and is experiencing symptoms like fever, cough, muscle aches or difficulty breathing to seek medical care right away. To see the latest data on Legionnaires' disease, click here.

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.