NYC Legionnaires outbreak slows as Met Museum tests positive for bacteria

New York City’s Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, which has affected 64 people on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, shows signs of slowing, with health officials reporting fewer new cases and ongoing efforts to sanitize contaminated cooling systems. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a landmark in the affected area, has tested positive for Legionella bacteria, joining dozens of other buildings in the city’s cleanup initiative. Despite the progress, officials have yet to identify the outbreak’s exact source, and criticism has mounted over the pace and transparency of the response.

Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin described the decline in new diagnoses as “an encouraging sign,” noting that only two cases were confirmed from samples taken Sunday and Monday, compared to as many as 11 daily earlier in the outbreak. As of Tuesday, 13 people remained hospitalized, 40 had been discharged, and 11 were not hospitalized. No deaths have been reported in the current outbreak, though the illness is fatal in about 10% of cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A similar outbreak in Harlem last year resulted in seven deaths and over 100 infections, with cooling towers at a city-run hospital and public health lab identified as sources.

The city has inspected all 183 cooling towers in the three ZIP codes affected by the Upper East Side outbreak, with 75 testing positive in initial rounds of testing. These results do not distinguish between live and dead bacteria, but the city has ordered cleanups for all affected buildings. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which typically closes on Wednesdays, canceled planned activities and shifted nonessential staff to remote work to facilitate the remediation process. Other sites, including the Guggenheim Museum, private schools, and apartment complexes on Park and Fifth Avenues, have also tested positive, though most have completed required cleanups, with the remaining 19 buildings slated to finish by Thursday.

City officials have deviated from past protocols by initiating cleanups immediately after first-round tests, rather than waiting for second-round results that confirm live bacteria. Dr. Martin cited the urgency of the situation, stating that the city’s “unprecedented speed” in ordering remediation reflects lessons learned from previous outbreaks. However, City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a resident of the Upper East Side, has criticized the Health Department for what she calls insufficient transparency and delayed action. Menin announced plans for a Council hearing to scrutinize the city’s handling of the outbreak, arguing that cleanups should have been mandated across the area without waiting for test results.

The outbreak was first detected on July 2, when two cases were identified in close proximity. Since then, the investigation has expanded to encompass a broader geographic area, with health officials emphasizing the need for continued vigilance. Legionella bacteria, which thrive in warm water systems, can spread through aerosolized droplets from cooling towers, hot tubs, and showerheads. The disease does not transmit between people, but exposure to contaminated water sources remains a significant risk.

As the city moves forward with its cleanup efforts, the focus remains on preventing further cases while addressing public concerns about accountability and communication. The Met Museum’s involvement has drawn particular attention, highlighting the widespread nature of the contamination. Health officials continue to stress that the outbreak is under control, but the absence of a pinpointed source underscores the challenges of tracing Legionella in complex urban environments.