Popular NYC museum tests positive for Legionnaires' disease bacteria amid outbreak - Fox News
The Guggenheim Museum in New York City is undergoing disinfection after its cooling towers tested positive for Legionella bacteria. While over 50 cases of Legionnaires' disease have been linked to the local outbreak, the museum maintains there is no current risk to visitors.
Why it matters
Public health outbreaks in high-traffic urban landmarks require rapid intervention to prevent the spread of serious respiratory illnesses.
The Guggenheim Museum in New York City was among dozens of buildings on Manhattan’s tony Upper East Side to test positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease recently. The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed museum on Fifth Avenue was one of 31 buildings that the city said Friday would be required to clean and disinfect their cooling towers to get rid of the bacteria. The Guggenheim is among 19 of the buildings which have already finished disinfection, with the others expected to be completed by Saturday. MYSTERY PARASITE LEAVES AMERICANS BATTLING ‘EXPLOSIVE' ILLNESS AS CDC INVESTIGATES Legionnaires' disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila, which naturally occurs in water. Symptoms include fever, chills, and shortness of breath, and it can be treated with antibiotics if detected early.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in