Guggenheim Museum among Upper East Side buildings ordered to disinfect cooling towers after Legionnaires' tests

The New York City health department announced Friday that 31 buildings on the Upper East Side have been ordered to clean and disinfect their cooling towers after testing positive for Legionella bacteria, the cause of Legionnaires' disease. The Guggenheim Museum was listed among 19 sites that have already completed remediation, with the remaining locations expected to finish by Saturday.

City officials emphasized that a positive test does not prove any building is the source of the outbreak, as the tests cannot differentiate between live and dead bacteria. The museum remained open throughout the testing and remediation process.

"The city has confirmed that there is no additional action needed at this time, and this poses no risk to anyone inside the building," the museum said in a statement on Saturday, noting that an outside contractor conducts regular monthly testing and treatment of its cooling tower.

More than 50 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease linked to the Upper East Side cluster, with fewer than 20 still hospitalized and no deaths reported. The disease, a serious form of pneumonia, spreads when people inhale tiny droplets of contaminated water from sources such as cooling towers, showerheads or hot tubs. It is not transmitted person-to-person and does not affect drinking water or indoor air systems.

Health officials warn that individuals over age 50, smokers, those with chronic lung conditions or weakened immune systems are at higher risk. Symptoms typically appear two days to two weeks after exposure and include cough, fever, headache, muscle aches and shortness of breath.