Guggenheim Museum among NYC Upper East Side buildings testing positive for Legionella

New York City’s health department disclosed that 31 Upper East Side buildings have cooling towers that tested positive for Legionella bacteria, the agent of Legionnaires’ disease. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is one of the sites; it has already completed remediation, and city officials say there is no additional risk to staff or visitors. Nineteen of the 31 buildings have finished cleaning, while the remaining twelve were ordered to do so by Saturday.

The outbreak has resulted in more than 50 confirmed cases and 22 hospitalizations, with no deaths reported. Cases are concentrated in ZIP codes 10028, 10128 and 10075. Health officials stress that positive PCR results do not prove any building is the source, as the tests cannot distinguish live from dead bacteria. City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin emphasized transparency, and a virtual town‑hall was held to answer resident questions. The museum’s spokesperson noted, “the city has confirmed that no additional action is needed at this time, and this poses no risk to anyone inside the building.”

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets containing the bacteria. Symptoms develop 2‑14 days after exposure and include fever, cough and shortness of breath. People over 50, smokers, and those with chronic lung conditions are at higher risk. The city continues to inspect cooling towers across the affected neighborhoods.