Air Force Veteran Dies in NYC Legionnaires' Outbreak; Family Blames Cooling Tower Owner
An 88-year-old Air Force veteran has died following a Legionnaires' disease outbreak on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The outbreak has been linked to cooling towers in the area, including one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that tested positive for Legionella bacteria. The veteran, who was married for 50 years, was found by his wife with a fever and later died after two weeks in intensive care. His family plans to sue the owner of the cooling tower once identified. Health officials have reported 74 cases of the disease, with eight patients still hospitalized. The outbreak is concentrated in ZIP codes 10128, 10028, and 10075. The city's Health Department advises those with flu-like symptoms to seek medical attention.