The Metropolitan Museum of Art and several prominent New York City preparatory schools are among 76 buildings identified by the city's Health Department as having tested positive for Legionella bacteria, the bacteria responsible for a growing Legionnaires' disease outbreak on the Upper East Side. The discovery has led to orders for these buildings to clean and disinfect their cooling towers.
New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin announced Tuesday that the Met, along with 19 other properties, was given a Thursday deadline to remediate its cooling tower system. Non-essential personnel at the museum were instructed to work from home on Wednesday to facilitate the process. The health department has sampled 183 cooling towers in ZIP codes 10028, 10128, and 10075.
Several high-profile private schools, including the Chapin School, the Spence School, and the Dalton School, also had cooling towers test positive for Legionella. These institutions face similar remediation requirements. Tuition at these schools exceeds $68,000 annually.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), 57 buildings, including the Guggenheim Museum, have already completed the necessary remediation. The number of buildings found with positive cooling towers has more than doubled since Friday, when 31 addresses were identified.
"We are inspecting every building with a positive PCR test for the presence of live or dead Legionella bacteria. We will issue violations to building owners found not to have been properly maintaining their cooling towers," Martin stated. A spokesperson for the Met Museum confirmed the findings, stating that remediation efforts are underway and that guidance from the city indicates no risk to visitors or staff inside the museum.
As of Tuesday, 63 people have been sickened by Legionnaires' disease in the outbreak, with 52 requiring hospitalization. Health officials have reported no deaths related to the outbreak thus far. "For people who do get sick, Legionnaires' disease can cause severe illness and even death, which is why we respond rapidly and aggressively and recommend seeing a doctor right away if you have been to the area and develop any flu-like symptoms," Martin advised. Adults over 50, smokers, individuals with chronic lung disease, and those with weakened immune systems are at increased risk.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin, representing the Upper East Side, criticized the health department's response, arguing for proactive disinfection of cooling towers rather than waiting for test results. Menin indicated that the City Council would hold a hearing to examine the city's response and ensure better oversight for future outbreaks. The Chapin School, Spence School, and Dalton School did not immediately respond to requests for comment.