Legionnaire's Disease Back in the News Once Again

Las Vegas' ARIA Resort's reporting of a minor Legionnaires' Disease outbreak last week should concern every hotel owner. In case you did not see the report, several guests who stayed at the resort came down with the disease. Later checking by ARIA officials found elevated levels of Legionella bacteria in several guestrooms. The specific source of the bacteria was not reported. It is common for Legionella bacteria to be transmitted via airborne water particles from an infected water source. That source could be anything from cooling towers to air conditioners to ice making machines to showerheads. In its letter to its guests, ARIA Resort said it had contacted guests who had stayed at the resort from June 21 to July 4 to make them aware of the issue.

That is certainly not the call or letter you want to receive after staying at a resort.

ARIA Resort reported that it dealt with the bacteria problem with water treatment and no detectable levels of Legionella bacteria were found.

One of the lodging industry's darkest moments was in July 1976 when an outbreak of pneumonia occurred among people attending a convention of the American Legion at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. More than 200 people were given medical treatment and 34 died. The source of the bacteria causing the illness was determined to be the cooling tower of the hotel's air-conditioning system, which then spread it through the entire building. Even today, Legionella bacteria sends from 8,000 to 18,000 people to the hospital each year.

What kind of maintenance plan do you have in place to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria? How often do you check for it? I did a little checking online and found a helpful source on the prevention and control of Legionnaire's Disease. Click here for it. Did you know the bacteria causing Legionnaire's Disease is even found in potting mix, soils and mulch? Be sure to read the report I recommend.