Legionnaires’ Disease Detected at Guggenheim Museum in NYC

The renowned Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City is among several buildings in Manhattan that recently tested positive for the bacteria linked to Legionnaires’ disease, amidst a new outbreak in the area.

On Friday, the city’s health department published a list of 31 structures on the Upper East Side. These buildings have been directed to clean and disinfect their cooling towers as part of the response to this latest health concern, which represents a severe form of pneumonia.

Interestingly, the Guggenheim, known for its unique cylindrical architecture, is one of 19 buildings that has already completed the necessary remediation process. The remaining buildings were anticipated to finish by Saturday.

City officials clarified that while the positive test results were concerning, they don’t necessarily indicate that any of these buildings are the source of the outbreak. The testing methods used are unable to differentiate between live and dead bacteria.

Throughout this situation, the museum has remained open. They stated that there was no need for any additional action at this time, asserting that there’s no risk to visitors inside the building. Regular checks on its cooling tower are conducted by an external company each month, which I suppose gives some added peace of mind.

The Guggenheim, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, signaling its importance as a significant architectural achievement of the 20th century.

In total, over 50 individuals have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease related to this cluster on the Upper East Side, with fewer than 20 still hospitalized. Thankfully, no fatalities have been reported as of yet.

Last year, however, there was a more severe outbreak in Harlem, where seven people died, and more than 100 became ill. That outbreak was traced back to cooling towers at Harlem Hospital and a nearby construction site for the city’s public health lab.

Legionella bacteria thrive in warm water and can become airborne, often through systems like showerheads, hot tubs, and cooling towers. While these structures are typically located on rooftops and help regulate temperatures in systems like refrigeration, they do not impact the drinking water supply or indoor air quality of the buildings.

It’s also essential to note that Legionnaires’ disease isn’t passed from person to person. Instead, people typically contract it by inhaling tiny droplets from contaminated water. Symptoms can appear anywhere from two days to two weeks after exposure and may include cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches, and shortness of breath, as noted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Individuals over 50, those who smoke or vape, and anyone with chronic lung issues or a compromised immune system are at greater risk. The disease’s name originates from an outbreak that affected attendees of an American Legion convention in Philadelphia back in 1976.