The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has detected Legionella, the bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease, in the Guggenheim Museum’s cooling tower. Despite no immediate threat to visitors or staff inside the museum, this comes amid a cluster of 46 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in nearby zip codes.
The discovery is part of an ongoing investigation into a ‘community cluster’ linked by location and time since July 9. The Guggenheim conducts regular tests as required by city regulations and has taken immediate remedial actions as requested.
City officials have identified 31 cooling towers in the cluster area, with 19 buildings already taking action to address the issue. This includes draining, cleaning, and disinfecting the affected towers. PCR tests used do not differentiate between live and dead bacteria, ensuring no risk to people within the premises.
Meanwhile, city health officials advise anyone potentially exposed from July 2 onwards to seek medical care if they experience symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also in the cluster zone, is yet to comment on its situation.
