The health department said a city hospital and a city-managed construction site were the origin of this summer’s Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Harlem that has so far infected 114 people, hospitalized 90 and killed seven .

During a virtual press briefing, officials described their process for identifying the source of the outbreak by testing the genes of Legionella found in cooling towers, which help circulate water through air conditioning systems and can become hotbeds for the bacteria without proper maintenance.

“Both buildings have been fully remediated and have sanitized their cooling towers,” Health Commissioner Michelle Morse said. “We are working with both buildings to require them to develop long-term management programs to protect the health of Harlem residents.”

Harlem H

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