- HEALTH & FITNESS
Legionnaires’ outbreak: 31 NYC cooling towers test positive for Legionella bacteria
Among the locations that have tested positive for Legionella bacteria is the Guggenheim Museum
ByEyewitness News
Saturday, July 11, 2026 3:39AM
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) –City officials released a preliminary list of building addresses Friday where cooling towers have tested positive for Legionella bacteria as health officials continue investigating an outbreak on the Upper East Side
Officials said Friday afternoon that 31 cooling towers have tested positive for Legionella bacteria using the city’s initial PCR screening process out of more than 180 cooling towers sampled since July 2
The city released the full list of those cooling towers on Friday evening
See full list of addresses below
Among the locations that have tested positive for the bacteria is 1071 Fifth Ave., the address for the Guggenheim Museum
Another is 120 E. 87th St., one of the most prestigious condominium buildings on the Upper East Side, the Trevor Day School at 312 E. 95th St., a building housing a Whole Foods and an MTA cooling tower for the Second Avenue subway, which the MTA said has already been cleaned
“Our facilities are regularly tested, and like hundreds of other cooling towers at buildings and facilities across the affected area, have been examined again in recent days, with one showing a positive result. In an abundance of caution, we have sanitized all three NYC Transit cooling towers on Second Avenue and will be subsequently retesting,” said MTA Acting Chief Safety Officer Lisette Camilo in a statement
The health commissioner said 19 of the 31 have already been fully remediated, including the Guggenheim and 120 E 87th St
Remediation involves draining, cleaning and disinfecting the tower. The remaining 12 will be fully remediated by Saturday, according to officials
Health officials believe the most likelyning Legionella, which can cause Legionnaires’ disease
“We are still conducting active investigation to determine which cooling tower is harboring the live bacteria that is causing people to get sick,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin
As of Friday morning, 54 people have tested positive for the illness, and 18 remain hospitalized
Another building that tested positive is located at 1511 Third Ave., according to city officials
Officials say the building received a positive PCR test from the city despite testing negative during its required monthly private inspection. It’s not yet clear whether the detected bacteria are active and capable of causing illness or are simply environmental contaminants
The New York City Health Department ordered the building owner to immediately drain, clean and disinfect the cooling tower
The investigation is focused on several Upper East Side ZIP codes, including neighborhoods such as Carnegie Hill, Yorkville and Lenox Hill, where health officials have been conducting widespread testing
Prior to the list being released, residents in the area said they wanted more information about which buildings have been affected
“I had no idea about this building,” one Upper East Side resident said. “They should put up a sign so people are aware of what’s going on.”
Another resident said there has not been enough public information
“Not enough info going around… hoping to get more clarity,” the resident said. “If it starts spreading rapidly, you’re going to curtail your normal activities… walk down Lexington instead of Third.”
Health officials say more extensive testing is underway to identify the specific
List of addresses with positive initial PCR screening results:
FULL REMEDIATION COMPLETE:- 180 East End Ave.- 1750 York Ave.- 1660 Second Ave- 1438 Third Ave.- 1511 Third Ave.- 1551 Third Ave.- 1071 Fifth Ave.- 1080 Fifth Ave.- 1001 Fifth Ave.- 240 E. 82nd St.- 8 E. 83rd St.- 145 E. 84th St.- 117 E. 85th St.- 125 E. 87th St.- 152 E. 87th St.- 120 E. 87th St.- 501 E. 87th St.- 168 E. 88th St.- 160 E. 88th St
CLEANING PENDING: Ordered to remediate by 7/11/26- 1875 Second Ave.- 1110 Fifth Ave.- 153 E. 78th St.- 135 E. 79th St.- 300 E. 79th St.- 238 E. 81st St.- 160 E. 84th St.- 114 E. 85th St.- 401 E. 88th St.- 333 E. 91st St.- 354 E. 91st St.- 312 E. 95th St
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