New York City health department says UES Legionnaires' cluster exposure has ended
NEW YORK (WABC) -- The New York City health commissioner shared encouraging news on Friday morning about the deadly Legionnaires' outbreak.
The city says there is no longer an elevated risk in three ZIP codes on Manhattan's Upper East Side: 10028,10075,and10128.
Dr. Alister Martin says the source of the community cluster has been eliminated.
"We can confidently close this phase of our response because the incubation period being the stretch of time during which new illnesses can rise has passed," Martin said. "Legionnaires' disease has a 14-day incubation period, within that time frame, we have seen no new cases."
Seven people have died since the beginning of the outbreak and five people remain hospitalized.
More than90%ofpatientsdeveloped symptoms beforeJuly 7,justfive daysafter the health department launched its investigation and ordered buildingswith positive screening teststoremediatetheir cooling towers.
Officials are continuing to investigate the source of exposure to the Legionella bacteria associated with the cluster.
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