2nd victim to die in Upper East Side Legionnaires' outbreak was Air Force veteran
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- A third person has died from the Legionnaires' Disease outbreak on the Upper East Side, health officials said Sunday.
Officials have released new information about the second person who has died in connection to the ongoing Legionnaires' disease outbreak on the Upper East Side.
The law firm that represents the victim said Sunday that he is an 88-year-old man who was a businessman and an Air Force veteran. He lived with his wife of 50 years in Yorkville.
Eyewitness News is told he was enjoying his golden years until July 2, when his wife found him sick near an open window with a 104-degree fever. It did not take long to determine he had Legionnaires' disease.
"He was intubated and on a respirator and was also having bedside dialysis as well, you know, intravenous, antibiotics administered. And I think they were monitoring his brainwaves," said his attorney, Ron Katter.
Despite valiant efforts by the ICU team for two weeks, he passed away on July 17, becoming the second person on the Upper East Side to die of the disease.
"I blame the property owner who failed to maintain their cooling tower because aside from being city regulations that require cooling tower owners to inspect and clean and sanitize as necessary," added Katter.
As of Saturday night, 72 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease, and nine people are hospitalized in association with this cluster.
The tragic announcement comes just days after the city revealed more than 45 additional positive tests for Legionella bacteria linked to cooling towers on the Upper East Side.
So far, they have ordered a total of 76 buildings to clean their cooling towers as they work to contain the ongoing outbreak.
Legionnaires' disease is treatable but 10% of people will die due to complications from the illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last year, seven people died and more than 100 were sickened during an outbreak in New York's Harlem neighborhood.
Health officials are urging anyone experiencing pneumonia-like symptoms to seek medical attention.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Download our connected TV app
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
