Last week, the Guest House at Graceland hotel on Elvis Presley Boulevard shut down its pool area after three individuals were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. Now, that number has risen to five cases of Legionnaires’ disease believed to be associated with the hotel. Legionnaires’ disease is caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria which is found in water. While many individuals who are exposed to the bacteria do not become ill, those with compromised immune systems or underlying medical conditions are more likely to experience Legionella-related illness. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease resemble that of pneumonia, and can include lethargy, fever, shortness of breath,…
Two separate cases of Legionnaires’ disease among guests of the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino sparked an investigation of the hotel by the Southern Nevada Health District. The guests stayed at the hotel at different times in March and April of 2017. A water sample taken by health officials from the hotel’s water system after the two cases were reported showed presence of Legionella bacteria. The district’s environmental health supervisor, Mark Bergtholdt, reportedly stated that large buildings- such as the Rio hotel- would be common homes to Legionella bacteria due to the complex plumbing systems, in which water may lay stagnant for long periods…
The LA Fitness club located at 12700 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orange County, Florida is one of two LA Fitness clubs in the area that have been under investigation after members contracted Legionnaires’ disease. A few of the water samples taken by the Florida Department of Health from the Blossom Trail facility have now come back positive for Legionella bacteria. This LA Fitness, as well as another location in Metro West have been under investigation since May of this year after a total of four cases of Legionnaires’ disease were found among members. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of…
Four cases of Legionnaires’ disease among members of two different LA fitness clubs in Orange County, Florida has sparked the investigation of the gyms as the possible source of the bacteria. The spas and showers of both the facility on Kirkman Road in Orange County and the Orange Blossom Trail location in Hunter’s Creek were shut down pending the investigation, and notices were issued to club members last week about the signs and symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease. Health officials upon inspection found conditions that would be favorable for the growth of Legionella at the fitness centers. Reportedly, the showers and spas were…
The 23rd Precinct at 162 E. 102nd Street in East Harlem is the common workplace to two police officers that have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. The first officer fell ill with Legionnaires’ disease and was hospitalized, prompting testing of the precinct’s water. Those results were finalized earlier this month, and revealed traces of Legionella bacteria, the bacteria responsible for causing Legionnaires’ disease. The Health Department is reportedly investigating the second case of Legionnaires’ disease, but has not yet determined if the precinct’s water is responsible for this officer’s illness. Inspectors are looking towards the pipes at the station house as…
Two people were hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease after visiting the Foothill Ranch community pool and spa located at 27021 Burbank in Foothill Ranch, California. While it was originally unclear whether or not the community pool and spa was the cause of these illnesses, testing performed by the Orange County Health Care Agency revealed that three samples from the spa tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Legionella bacteria can be found in warm hot tub water when it is not properly cleaned or disinfected. When this water becomes aerosolized and inhaled through the lungs, a person may contract Legionnaires disease, a severe type of…
One person is dead and six others have been hospitalized due to their illness with Legionnaires’ disease over the past 11 days in the Lenox Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. The woman who passed was in her 90s and reportedly had underlying health issues, says the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The source of the outbreak is not yet known, but cooling systems within a half mile radius of those who have fallen ill are being tested as possible sources. The results from the 116 cooling systems under investigation may take up to two weeks. Legionnaires’ disease is caused…
Positive findings of Legionella bacteria were found throughout the water system in the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The investigation came about after two guests contracted Legionnaires ’ disease following their stay at the Rio Hotel in March and April. Test results conducted by The Southern Nevada Health District following the second reported case of the disease showed the presence of the bacteria. The company is now taking action to remediate the problem and disinfect the water. Guests are being alerted and are being relocated while remediation is taking place. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia…
If a company or organization in the UK fails to prevent the spread of legionella on their premises and someone dies of Legionnaires’ Disease as a result, the company could face a charge of corporate manslaughter. As of now, a town council and a discount home improvement warehouse have faced corporate manslaughter charges as a result of Legionnaires’ Disease outbreaks. Following an outbreak of the flu that affected around 120 people who had attended a party at the Playboy Mansion, tests on the mansion’s pool and hot tub showed positive results for legionella bacteria. Though the first officially recorded Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak…
A man in his 50s has died from Legionnaires’ disease that he contracted while using a hot spring in Mihara, Hiroshima. He is thought to have visited the facility in early March and was hospitalized with pneumonia like symptoms including shortness of breath and fever shortly after. In addition to the deceased man, 39 people who have all visited the “Miharashi Onsen” hot spring have also been experiencing pneumonia-like symptoms. Of the 39 people, in ages ranging from 30-80, 37 have been hospitalized with two in serious condition. Legionella pneumophila has been detected in all of the people complaining of…