A deadly Legionnaires' disease outbreak in the South Bronx has claimed two lives and expanded to four ZIP codes, with 19 confirmed cases. The New York City Department of Health ordered the disinfection of 10 contaminated cooling towers, including one at Yankee Stadium. Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin warned of strict consequences for noncompliant building owners as officials work to trace the source of the cluster.
South Bronx Legionnaires' disease outbreak
- ▪The New York City Department of Health began investigating the South Bronx Legionnaires' disease cluster on September 10, 2026, after five cases and one death were initially identified.
- ▪A Legionnaires' disease outbreak in the South Bronx has resulted in two deaths and 19 total positive cases as of September 20, 2026.
- ▪As of September 20, 2026, four people remain hospitalized, 11 have been discharged, and two were not hospitalized due to the South Bronx Legionnaires' disease cluster.
Cooling tower contamination
- ▪The New York City Department of Health identified 10 cooling towers in the Bronx that tested positive for Legionella bacteria DNA via preliminary PCR testing.
- ▪The contaminated cooling towers are located at 10 specific Bronx addresses, including Yankee Stadium, Boricua College's Bronx campus, and a Morrisania dialysis center.
Building remediation orders
- ▪New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin confirmed that all cooling towers testing positive through initial screening had been disinfected as of September 18, 2026.
- ▪The New York City Department of Health ordered the operators of the 10 positive-testing cooling towers to clean, disinfect, and complete remediation by September 14, 2026.
Health department accountability measures
- ▪The New York City Department of Health scheduled a virtual town hall for September 22, 2026, to address community concerns regarding the Legionnaires' disease cluster.
- ▪New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin stated that building owners who are found to be noncompliant with health regulations regarding cooling towers will face accountability and consequences.
Geographic expansion to ZIP codes
- ▪The South Bronx Legionnaires' disease investigation initially focused on the Melrose and Morrisania neighborhoods within ZIP codes 10451 and 10456.
- ▪The New York City Department of Health expanded its community outreach to include ZIP codes 10455 and 10459 after identifying cases within a few blocks of ZIP code 10456.
Yankee Stadium testing results
- ▪Yankee Stadium's cooling tower tested positive for trace amounts of Legionella bacteria DNA during a PCR test conducted by the health department on September 11, 2026.
- ▪Yankee Stadium officials stated that their independent weekly water quality tests on August 26, September 2, and September 9, 2026, followed a negative monthly test on August 20, 2026.
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