Two people have died and dozens more have fallen ill in a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Westchester County, north of New York City, health officials said. The victims were residents of White Plains and New Rochelle. At least 38 cases have been confirmed this summer.
Officials have not said where the bacteria came from. Investigators are testing water systems in the area, with cooling towers at the top of their list, since the disease spreads when people breathe in mist from contaminated water.
What Legionnaires' disease is
Legionnaires' is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which grow in warm water. People get sick by breathing in vapor from cooling towers, large plumbing systems, showers, hot tubs or decorative fountains. The disease does not spread from person to person.
Symptoms such as cough, fever, chills, muscle aches and shortness of breath usually appear within about two weeks of exposure. Older adults, smokers, and people with lung disease or weakened immune systems face the highest risk. The disease is treatable with antibiotics when caught early.
What officials are doing
County health investigators are focusing on cooling towers near the homes and workplaces of people who fell ill, a common source in past outbreaks. They are advising building owners to check and disinfect water systems, and to keep towers clean so bacteria cannot multiply.
The Westchester cluster follows other Legionnaires' cases in the New York region this year. A separate outbreak in Harlem earlier in 2026 sickened 81 people and killed three, according to city officials.
How residents can protect themselves
Health officials urge anyone with pneumonia-like symptoms to see a doctor promptly and mention the possibility of Legionnaires'. People at higher risk should ask about testing. Cases tend to rise in late summer, when warm weather helps the bacteria grow in water systems.