The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene confirmed the presence of Legionella bacteria in the cooling tower of the Guggenheim Museum this week. This discovery was part of an investigation into a cluster of Legionnaires' disease cases reported in the area, with the museum acting swiftly to address the findings.
Health Department's Findings on Legionella
On July 9, the city reported that a total of 46 individuals in the Upper East Side zip codes 10028, 10128, and 10075 had contracted Legionnaires' disease. Following this alarming trend, city officials ordered initial PCR screening tests for over 180 cooling towers to trace the source of the infections. The Guggenheim, a prominent cultural institution, was among those tested.
A spokesperson for the Guggenheim stated, “We understand that the Guggenheim is one of over 150 cooling towers that have been tested in the identified zip codes, and full results of this inquiry are not yet known.” The museum has conducted regular tests of its cooling towers as per city regulations.
Remedial Actions Taken by the Guggenheim
After the positive result for Legionella, the Guggenheim promptly initiated remediation steps as advised by the Department of Health. This included draining, cleaning, and disinfecting the cooling towers to eliminate any potential risk. The spokesperson reassured that “there is no additional action needed at this time, and this poses no risk to anyone inside the building.”
