Guggenheim Museum among NYC buildings that tested positive for Legionnaires' amid disease outbreak

New York City's iconic Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum was among several Manhattan buildings that recently tested positive for the bacteria causing Legionnaires' disease. The city's health department identified 31 buildings on the Upper East Side that were ordered to clean and disinfect their cooling towers amid the latest outbreak.

The distinctive, cylindrical art museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, was one of 19 buildings that had already completed the required remediation work by Friday. The remaining buildings were expected to finish by Saturday. City officials emphasized that the positive test results do not confirm these buildings as the source of the outbreak, as the tests could not differentiate between live and dead bacteria.

The museum stated that it poses no risk to anyone inside and has an external company that conducts regular monthly testing and treatment of its cooling tower. The Guggenheim was not closed at any point due to the positive test or remediation efforts. So far, more than 50 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease in connection with the Upper East Side cluster, with fewer than 20 currently hospitalized and no reported deaths.

Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia, is caused by Legionella bacteria, which thrive in warm water systems like cooling towers. It is not transmitted person-to-person and is typically contracted by inhaling contaminated water droplets. Symptoms include cough, fever, headaches, and shortness of breath, usually appearing two to 14 days after exposure.

“

The city has confirmed that there is no additional action needed at this time, and this poses no risk to anyone inside the building.