The Guggenheim Museum on Manhattan’s Upper East Side tested positive for Legionella bacteria, the pathogen that causes Legionnaires’ disease.
The city has identified 31 buildings with contaminated cooling towers and ordered them to undergo cleaning and disinfection.
Among the sites, the Guggenheim is one of 19 that have already completed the required disinfection, with the remaining facilities expected to finish by Saturday.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia triggered by Legionella pneumophila, which naturally inhabits water sources. Early detection allows treatment with antibiotics.
Health officials advise anyone who has lived, worked, or visited the affected area since late June and experiences flu‑like symptoms to seek medical attention promptly.
More than 50 cases have been linked to the Upper East Side outbreak, and fewer than 20 patients remain hospitalized.
The museum issued a statement confirming that no additional action is needed and that the situation poses no risk to visitors or staff.
Opened in 1959, the Guggenheim is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Investigations continue to determine the outbreak’s source. Cooling towers, typically located on rooftops, can emit mist containing Legionella bacteria.
The city’s health department is testing all cooling towers in the affected zone. These systems regulate temperature for refrigeration and other equipment but do not affect drinking water or indoor air conditioning.
Legionnaires’ disease does not spread from person to person.
Last year, a separate cluster linked to a cooling tower on a hospital roof and a nearby construction site resulted in seven fatalities.
