Legionnaires' town hall set to be held after 3 deaths in Harlem cluster

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Virtual town hall on Legionnaires' outbreak in Harlem
The town hall is set to be held on Tuesday to address concerns in Harlem.

HARLEM (WABC) -- Concerned citizens in Harlem hope to get some answers on the deadly Legionnaires' disease outbreak at a virtual town hall.

State Senator Cordell Cleare is holding the meeting in partnership with Community Boards 9, 10, and 11.

The meeting is set to begin at 6 p.m.

At least 90 people have been infected since the outbreak began last month and the New York City Health Department says three people have died.

The cases have been found in ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039.

Hospitalizations are down. Seventeen people remain in the hospital. That's down from 24 last week.

If you're experiencing flu-like symptoms, you're urged to see your doctor.

What to know about the disease

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by the bacteria Legionella, which grows in warm water.

People can get Legionnaires' disease by breathing in water vapor that contains Legionella bacteria.

Legionnaires' disease cannot be transmitted from person to person and can be treated with antibiotics. Complications from the disease are less likely the earlier treatment begins.

Legionnaires' disease can be caused by plumbing systems where conditions are favorable for Legionella growth, such as cooling towers, whirlpool spas, hot tubs, humidifiers, hot water tanks, and evaporative condensers of large air-conditioning systems.


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