Overview
- The Health Department said Friday it could close the response phase after two weeks passed with no new cluster-linked illnesses following an investigation that began in early July.
- Ninety-two people have tested positive and seven have died, with five patients still hospitalized as of July 30.
- Officials tested about 183 cooling towers at 160 buildings, found live Legionella by culture in 59 towers at 58 buildings, and ordered all culture-positive systems to be drained, cleaned, and disinfected.
- Inspections uncovered more than 110 violations including an unregistered tower at 300 East 83rd Street that was cited 11 times and fined $11,000, and the city plans further enforcement reviews and a City Council oversight hearing in September.
- Whole‑genome sequencing is underway to match patient and environmental samples with results expected by the end of August, and investigators say findings will guide any targeted enforcement or policy changes.