NEW YORK, September 24, 2026 — As New York City health officials expand their investigation into a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the South Bronx, attorney Ronald J. Katter of The Katter Law Firm has been retained to represent two clients who became sick during the outbreak and is calling on the city to provide residents with more information about the potential sources of the disease and steps being taken to protect the public.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced September 10 that it was investigating a possible cluster of Legionnaires’ disease in parts of Melrose and Morrisania, initially covering ZIP codes 10451 and 10456. The department reported that two people had died, 22 had been sickened and three had been hospitalized.

On September 20, the Health Department expanded the area under investigation to include ZIP codes 10455 and 10459, covering parts of the South Bronx, Woodstock, Longwood, Foxhurst, Morrisania and Crotona Park.

Katter, whose practice has represented victims of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in New York City, said residents need timely and complete information while the investigation continues.
“The city is giving out information in bits,” Katter said. “That is not a good look for them. It seems like they are trying to hide something. When there is a catastrophic event such as this, the last thing the city needs to do is keep residents in the dark about the seriousness of the situation.”

Bronx Has History of Legionnaires’ Outbreaks
The current outbreak is not the first time the Bronx has been affected by Legionnaires’ disease. In 2015, a Legionnaires’ outbreak linked to cooling towers at the Opera House Hotel sickened more than 100 people and resulted in 12 deaths. Katter subsequently filed a lawsuit against the hotel and its owners on behalf of a security guard who worked at another building and contracted Legionnaires’ disease.

The Bronx has experienced other outbreaks in recent years, including an outbreak in the Highbridge section in 2022 and another in Co-op City in 2024.

Katter said the latest expansion of the investigation raises additional questions for residents about the source of the outbreak, what buildings or water systems may be implicated, and what measures are being taken to prevent additional illnesses.

“People living and working in these neighborhoods deserve to know what the city knows, what it is testing and what is being done to protect them,” Katter said. “The longer residents are left without answers, the greater the concern becomes.”

Katter is available for interviews about the South Bronx Legionella discovery, the risks posed to residents of apartment buildings and senior housing, building owners’ responsibilities, cooling tower safety, and what residents should do if they believe they have been exposed to Legionella.

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Media Resource: Ronald J. Katter, “The Legionnaires’ Lawyer”
Since 2015, attorney Ronald J, Katter has been at the forefront of New York City’s Legionnaires’ disease crisis, recovering millions of dollars for dozens of individuals sickened by preventable outbreaks. As a trusted media contributor, he regularly provides live commentary and sharp legal analysis on complex public health litigation for The New York Times, ABC, CBS, WPIX, 1010 WINS, and the New York Post. To see Mr. Katter’s media appearances, please visit his website at https://www.katterlaw.com/firm-news/.

On-Call for Breaking News: Mr. Katter is available on short notice for in-person, remote broadcast, or telephone interviews regarding current and ongoing New York City outbreaks.

For more information, visit https://www.katterlaw.com.