Why Can't We Eliminate Legionnaires' Disease?

New York City’s recent outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease has brought the disease back into the headlines. The CDC published “Legionnaires’ Disease” as the official name of the disease. Legionnaires’ Disease is a type of pneumonia with symptoms including fevers, chills, muscle aches, and coughs. Legionnaires’ Disease CasesThe number of cases of Legionnaires’ Disease has been increasing since the early 2000s, with a peak in 2018, a drop during the pandemic, and a subsequent rise since 2020. New York City (2025): From July – August 2025, 118 cases of Legionnaires’ Disease, with seven deaths, were reported in Harlem.