New York health officials said traces of the bacteria associated with Legionnaires' disease were found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of an ongoing investigation into an Upper East Side outbreak. The same bacteria had earlier been detected at the Guggenheim Museum.
The Met said its Wednesday closure would be used for thorough cleaning and follow-up testing. Legionnaires' disease is a treatable form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria, often linked to building water systems and cooling towers.
At the Guggenheim, routine testing identified the bacteria in a cooling tower, prompting immediate remediation. The museum said the system is limited to facilities staff and does not pose a public risk. Employees working nearby were informed, and the tower has already been treated and scheduled for retesting.
Officials continue to trace the source of the outbreak, which was first identified on July 2. More than 100 cooling towers in the neighborhood have been inspected as part of the response. According to New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin, 49 people required hospitalization and 34 have since returned home. No deaths have been reported.
As testing and prevention efforts continue, the case highlights how modern building monitoring can strengthen public health safeguards in dense urban environments, shaping safer cities for the future.
