12 cases of Legionnaires' disease confirmed in downtown Flushing, Queens

FLUSHING, Queens (WABC) -- The New York City Department of Health is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires' disease in a neighborhood in Queens.

The DOH said there are 12 confirmed cases of the disease in downtown Flushing in the last two weeks.

The patients range in age from early 30s to late 80s.

Five people are hospitalized and recovering, and seven have been discharged from the hospital. No patients have died and all are expected to survive.

Two more cases are currently being investigated to determine whether they are part of this cluster.

The elderly and weak are especially vulnerable.

Flyers are now being distributed at subway stations and senior centers.

Meanwhile, health experts suspect the Legionella bacteria may be hiding in the cooling towers in some area residential buildings.

They're waiting for test results to return for confirmation.

The experts are not disclosing the exact addresses because they want all residents in Flushing to be on the alert, even if they don't live in the affected buildings.