A number of prominent locations, including the bustling Metropolitan Museum of Art and several high-priced prep schools in Manhattan, are now part of a growing list of buildings that have tested positive for the bacteria linked to a rising Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on the Upper East Side.
The New York City Department of Health has identified 76 buildings where deep cleaning and disinfection of cooling towers are required, after they were found to have Legionella bacteria. Reports indicate that at least 63 people have fallen ill, and the figures continue to increase.
Health Commissioner Dr. Alistair F. Martin stated on Tuesday that the Metropolitan Museum of Art, along with 19 other organizations, has until Thursday to address issues with contaminated water cooling towers.
In addition, several elite private schools in the vicinity, such as the all-girls Chapin School, have received orders to rectify cooling towers infected with bacteria. Tuition at these schools can exceed $68,250 annually.
Cooling towers at the Spence School and Dalton School, both prestigious K-12 institutions with fees above $70,000, also tested positive for Legionella and will need thorough cleaning and disinfection.
So far, 57 buildings, including the Guggenheim Museum, have completed necessary repairs, according to the health department.
Interestingly, the confirmed number of buildings with cooling towers testing positive for Legionella has now more than doubled from the 31 locations reported just last Friday.
The health department took samples from 183 cooling towers across specific zip codes in the area.
Dr. Martin emphasized that every building with a positive PCR test for live or dead Legionella bacteria is being tested. Violations will be imposed on those who fail to maintain their cooling towers properly.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Museum of Art mentioned that activities scheduled for Wednesday—usually a closure day—have been canceled to facilitate restoration efforts. Additionally, non-essential staff have been instructed to work from home.
“The safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers is of utmost importance,” the spokesperson stated, acknowledging the positive tests for Legionella in their cooling system. They assured that proper measures are being taken, including collaboration with health officials and third-party water management experts for ongoing inspections.
Despite the situation, the museum drew in over 5.7 million visitors last year, with reassurances provided that the newfound strain of Legionella poses no risk to anyone on-site.
Health officials note that of the more than 50 individuals who have fallen ill, 52 were hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease. Fortunately, there have been no fatalities reported yet.
Dr. Martin cautioned that Legionellosis can lead to severe symptoms or death, especially for vulnerable populations, including older adults and those with existing health conditions. He urged anyone who feels unwell after visiting the area to seek medical help promptly.
City Council President Julie Menin expressed concern that the health department should have acted more decisively to disinfect cooling towers sooner, rather than waiting for test results, which she believes delayed potential protective measures.
In response to the outbreak, schools like Spence have stated they are taking steps to manage the situation, including further inspections and professional cleaning of cooling towers.
Chapin School and Dalton School have yet to comment on the situation.
