G overnor Kathy Hochul defended New York City's response to the Legionnaires ' disease outbreak after officials on Tuesday confirmed the death toll had risen to five.

Rainwater left untreated in cooling towers atop city-owned Harlem Hospital fueled the Big Apple’s deadliest Legionnaire’s disease outbreak in a decade, the Rev. Al Sharpton charged Tuesday.

A Legionnaires' outbreak in Harlem has prompted concerns about NYC's health oversight after a decline in cooling tower inspectors, despite funding increases. Former Governor Cuomo seeks an independent probe into the city's handling of the crisis.