Health officials are investigating a cluster of Legionnaires' disease in two neighbourhoods on Manhattan's Upper East Side after 23 cases were reported as of July 6. Seventeen people have been hospitalised, while no deaths have been recorded. The affected areas include Carnegie Hill and Yorkville, covering ZIP codes 10028, 10128 and 10075, according to city health authorities.

Officials believe the likely source of the bacteria is one or more cooling towers in the area and are testing such systems as part of the investigation. Cooling towers are water-based systems commonly located on top of buildings and used to control temperatures for equipment such as refrigeration systems. Authorities said the outbreak is not linked to building plumbing, meaning residents can continue drinking tap water, bathing, showering, cooking and using air conditioners safely.

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which can grow in warm water and spread through building water systems. The bacteria may be found in cooling towers, showerheads and hot tubs. People generally become infected by breathing in tiny droplets of contaminated water, while health officials stressed that the disease does not spread from person to person.

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Symptoms usually appear between two days and two weeks after exposure and may include cough, fever, headache, muscle aches and shortness of breath. Health officials urged residents and recent visitors to the affected neighbourhoods who develop flu-like symptoms to contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible. People aged 50 or older, smokers and vapers, those with chronic lung disease and individuals with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of serious illness.

The disease can become life-threatening without timely diagnosis and treatment. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in 10 people who develop Legionnaires' disease die from complications. Appropriate antibiotic treatment is important, as untreated cases can worsen during the first week and lead to respiratory failure, shock, kidney failure or failure of multiple organs.

Authorities said building and water-system managers can reduce the risk by regularly cleaning and disinfecting cooling towers, maintaining proper chlorine levels in pools and spas and flushing unused taps. Residents can also take precautions by draining garden hoses, following instructions for cleaning and replacing water filters, regularly checking chlorine levels in pools and hot tubs and flushing water heaters twice a year. The New York City investigation remains underway as officials work to identify the exact source of the outbreak.

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