City answering questions at town hall amid growing Upper East Side Legionnaires' outbreak
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- New York City health officials say 59 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease as an outbreak on the Upper East Side continues to grow.
The cluster has prompted officials to hold a virtual town hall Monday night to answer health questions.
The city has identified 31 buildings with cooling towers that tested positive for Legionella bacteria and has ordered those buildings to clean and disinfect the systems. Officials released the addresses of all 31 locations last week as part of efforts to keep residents informed while the investigation continues.
The city is still trying to identify the exact source of the outbreak, which is affecting multiple Upper East Side neighborhoods, including Carnegie Hill, Yorkville and Lenox Hill.
Among the buildings with a cooling tower that tested positive is the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
Officials stressed that a positive test result does not necessarily mean a building is the source of the outbreak or that it is actively making people sick.
"We think it's important to be transparent and release the names of these cooling towers," NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin said.
ABC News medical contributor Dr. Darien Sutton said the number of positive cooling towers may sound alarming, but cautioned against assuming they are directly linked to illnesses.
"Thirty-one buildings testing positive is alarming and understandably concerning, but it doesn't mean that 31 buildings are actively making people sick," Sutton said.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin was critical of the city's response over the weekend. She says the council will look at legislating more accountability and transparency from the Health Department.
The Health Department is reminding residents that Legionnaires' disease is not spread from person to person. Officials also say it remains safe to drink tap water, bathe, shower and use air conditioning systems.
To provide updates and answer questions from the public, the city is hosting a virtual town hall that got underway at 6 p.m. on Monday. Additional information is available through the NYC Health Department.
Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which can grow in water systems. People can become sick after inhaling contaminated water droplets. Symptoms often include cough, fever, shortness of breath and muscle aches.
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