New Delhi, Aug. 1 -- One person has died and 22 others have fallen ill in a Legionnaires' disease cluster centered in Central Harlem's ZIP codes (10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, 10039) . The outbreak was first detected on July 25, with new cases expected through early August since symptoms can emerge up to 10 days after exposure to contaminated water vapor.

Health officials confirm all operable cooling towers, common bacterial breeding grounds atop buildings, are being tested across the affected neighborhoods.

Legionnaires' disease is a severe pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria thriving in warm water systems like cooling towers, hot tubs, and plumbing networks . Infection occurs only when people inhale contaminated mist; it cannot spre...