local
Dozens of New York cooling towers test positive for Legionnaires’ bacteria as outbreak reaches 60 cases
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· July 14, 2026
· 4 min read
By Jen Christensen, CNN
(CNN) — New York City is managing a community cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases on the Upper East Side that officials believe is tied to bacteria found in cooling towers. Towers on 76 buildings on the Upper East Side have tested positive for the bacteria, the city’s...
Key takeaway Towers on 76 buildings on the Upper East Side have tested positive for the bacteria, the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Tuesday.
Why this matters in The El Paso
El Paso residents may be wondering if similar outbreaks could occur in their own community. While this particular incident is centered in New York City, the presence of Legionella bacteria in cooling towers is a concern that can affect any city with large buildings and cooling systems. El Paso's own building owners and managers should take note of the measures being taken in New York, such as testing and disinfecting cooling towers, to prevent the spread of the bacteria. The city's public health department may also want to review its own protocols for handling Legionnaires' disease outbreaks, considering the vulnerable populations in El Paso, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. By learning from the experiences of other cities, El Paso can better prepare itself to respond to potential public health threats.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 14, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 4 min
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What is this story about? By Jen Christensen, CNN
(CNN) — New York City is managing a community cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases on the Upper East Side that officials believe is tied to bacteria found in cooling towers. Towers on 76 buildings on the Upper East Side have tested positive for the bacteria, the city’s...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 14, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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