A deadly Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City has set health and community leaders on a campaign to educate the public on ways to prevent the bacteria from growing and spreading.

New York City officials gathered Thursday to address the growing concern regarding the cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases in Central Harlem. As of Thursday afternoon, three people had died of the disease.

At least 24 people remained hospitalized nearly two weeks after the cluster of Legionnaires’ disease was first detected in Harlem, with five zip codes affected, city health officials said.