While the city typically waits until three cases are confirmed before declaring a cluster, officials said they are moving quickly to identify the source and prevent additional infections.
The two confirmed cases were identified in ZIP codes 10028 and 10128. Additional potential cases are under investigation, and health officials said confirmatory test results are pending. No deaths have been reported.
The Health Department is testing water from cooling towers throughout the affected area. Officials say past outbreaks have been linked to Legionella bacteria spreading through mist released by contaminated cooling towers. Building owners whose systems test positive will be required to conduct remediation.
Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin urged anyone who lives, works or has visited the area since late June to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms including fever, cough, difficulty breathing or other flu-like illness. A health alert has also been sent to medical providers, and community outreach efforts are scheduled to begin this weekend.
Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which grow in warm water. People become infected by inhaling contaminated water vapor, not through person-to-person contact. The disease can be treated with antibiotics when caught early, and officials stressed that it remains safe to use air conditioners, cooling centers, city facilities and tap water in the affected neighborhood.
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