Legionella bacteria have been detected in a rooftop cooling tower at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on Manhattan's Upper East Side, placing the landmark among nearly 50 addresses linked to a Legionnaires' disease cluster.
The outbreak, identified on 2 July, has sickened more than 50 people between 76th and 96th Streets, though no deaths have been reported and fewer than 20 patients remain hospitalised. New York City health authorities ordered 31 buildings in the affected area to clean and disinfect their cooling towers. The Guggenheim was among 19 properties that have already completed remediation. The museum remained open to visitors throughout the process.
Officials are continuing to test cooling towers across the neighbourhood as the investigation proceeds.