Dear Neighbor,

The expression, when it rains it pours, seems apropos for the public health landscape at this time. In addition to dealing with the Legionnaires' community cluster, we are experiencing another heatwave, our air quality is quickly becoming unhealthy due to Canadian wildfires, and cases of cyclosporiasis are increasing.

Fortunately, the current heatwave is breaking and temperatures are forecasted to be in the low 90's today. Nonetheless, hot weather can sneak up on us and the higher-than-usual temperatures today will be compounded by an unhealthy air quality due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. It is important to be careful and take precautions:

• Make sure to stay hydrated,
• Limit time outside, seek shade, and avoid strenuous outdoor activity,
• Make sure that indoor space is cool and seek air conditioning,
• If particulates irritate your eyes, nose, or throat, or if you have difficulty breathing, go indoors as quickly as possible - seek medical attention for more severe symptoms, and
• Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing any symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

Please note that NYC cooling centers are open today. Click here to find local cooling centers. The NYC Office of Emergency Management recommends wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask (KN95 or N95) if spending time outdoors while the air quality is unhealthy. Free KN95 masks are available today at locations throughout the city. The following sites are located in District 28:

• 19th Precinct Station House

153-55 East 67th Street

Manhattan
Masks can be picked up at this location during regular hours of operation, which is 24 hours a day

• Engine 8 Ladder 2 Battalion 8 and NYPD 17th Precinct Station House

165 East 51st Street

Manhattan
Masks can be picked up at this location during regular hours of operation, which is 24 hours a day

• Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library

455 Fifth Avenue

Manhattan
Masks can be picked up at this location during regular business hours (8 a.m. - 9 p.m. today)

For more information, please visit the NYC Health Department's Air Quality Guidance and Hot Weather and Your Health web pages.

Please see below for information about the cyclosporiasis outbreak and an update on the Legionnaires' cluster.

Finally, it's important to remember that these overlapping events don't occur in a vacuum. Although it can't be said that any single weather event or natural disaster would not have occurred without climate change, it is well-established science that climate change makes such events significantly more likely to occur (including not only heat waves and wildfires, but also Legionnaires' outbreaks), and much more intense when they do occur.

Similarly, though it's impossible to say that the worst cyclosporiasis outbreak in US history would not have happened under a different federal administration, President Trump's reckless cuts at the USDA and CDC have made such an outbreak more likely to occur, and more difficult to contain when it does.

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at lkrueger@nysenate.gov or 212-490-9535. If you are not already subscribed to my email list, click here to join.

Liz Krueger

State Senator

Cyclosporiasis Outbreak

Cyclosporiasis, or explosive diarrhea, is an intestinal illness that results from consuming food (such as fruit and produce) or water that is contaminated with a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora.

As you may be aware, cases of cyclosporiasis are rapidly increasing nationwide, including in New York. Three hundred and seventy-four cases have been diagnosed in New York since May 1, 2026. This illness is not new to the United States - there are generally 3,000-4,000 cases per year - but with over 3,000 cases so far in 2026, this is the largest outbreak our country has experienced.

The duration and number of cases illustrate why it is critical to maintain the necessary public health funding and infrastructure to investigate and contain such outbreaks.

Cyclosporiasis is not typically life-threatening. A person with this illness may experience a variety of symptoms, including:

• Watery diarrhea and frequent, sometimes explosive bowel movements
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Bloating, increased gas, and stomach cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Tiredness
• Muscle aches
• Low-grade fever

Symptoms may come and go over a period of days or weeks. Cyclosporiasis is not transmitted directly from person to person and does not infect animals. This illness is diagnosed by testing a stool sample.

Older adults, young children, pregnant people, and those who are immunocompromised are at greater risk of becoming severely dehydrated or experiencing prolonged illness. The treatment for more severe cases is an antibiotic called Bactrim.

The NYC Health Department and Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist, recommend the following preventive measures until more is known about the source of the outbreak:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before handling food and after using the toilet or changing diapers.
• Purchase lettuce and other produce that you wash and cut yourself - avoid bagged or boxed salads and salad kits.
• Purchase produce that can be peeled, washed thoroughly, or cooked.
• Wash produce as thoroughly as possible, but keep in mind that water will not eliminate all of the parasites. Cooking food to a temperature of 158 degrees Farenheit is known to kill Cyclospora.
• Speak with your health care provider if you develop symptoms. Since cyclosporiasis and norovirus present similarly, let your provider know if your symptoms have come and gone, which is suggestive of cyclosporiasis.

Prior outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to fresh raspberries, leafy greens, onions, basil, cilantro, and snow peas.

For more information, Dr. Jetelina has written two informative blogs, Explosive Foodborne Outbreak and Top 10 Cyclospora Questions. You can also visit the NYC Health Department's Cyclospora Infection (Cyclosporiasis) web page. And as always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at lkrueger@nysenate.gov or 212-490-9535.

Legionnaires' Update

Finally, I will provide a brief update on the Legionnaires' community cluster since a lot of information has already been shared this week.

• As of July 15th, the NYC Health Department reported that there is a total of 64 individuals who have been diagnosed with Legionnaires'. Of those 64 individuals, 13 are currently hospitalized, 40 were hospitalized and have been discharged, and 11 were not hospitalized. There have been no deaths.
  
• Please click here to view the list of 76 cooling towers that tested positive as of July 14th (a preliminary test result from the PCR screening test), including the 57 buildings that have already completed the remediation process (cleaning and disinfecting of the cooling tower) and the remaining 19 that are required to do so by today, July 16th.

• Please click here to read the Health Department's July 10th update on the City's investigation of this cluster of cases.



• If you were unable to attend the NYC Health Department's July 13th Virtual Town Hall on the Legionnaires' cluster, please click here to listen to the recording.



For additional information and updates, please visit the NYC Health Department's Legionnaires' disease web page. And as always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at lkrueger@nysenate.gov or 212-490-9535.