ALERT: Las Vegas- Legionnaires’ Disease Reported at the Rio (June 12, 2017)
June 12, 2017
Two individuals contracted Legionnaires’ disease after staying at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, in March and April.
According to the Southern Nevada Health District on Friday:
The Southern Nevada Health District is investigating two cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported in guests who stayed separately at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV in March and April. The hotel is assisting in the investigation and taking steps to provide information to past and current guests of the property.
In response to the initial illness report, the property arranged for environmental testing of its water system. Facility testing results did indicate a presence of the Legionella bacteria, and the property initiated the appropriate remediation response of chlorine disinfection. Following reports of the additional case, the Health District conducted sampling of the water system and identified Legionella bacteria throughout the system. The Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino and the Health District are working together to conduct remediation and follow up sampling to ensure remediation efforts are effective.
CNN.com reports:
The hotel is disinfecting the system with chlorine … Guests were relocated from rooms served by that system, and those rooms won’t be occupied until the system is properly flushed, he said.
Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia, develops when people breathe small droplets of water infected with legionella bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most healthy people who are exposed to legionella don’t get sick, the CDC says. But those who do usually develop fever, cough, chills or muscle aches. Symptoms usually begin within two to 10 days after exposure to the bacteria.
“Guests who stayed at the Rio more than two weeks ago and have not developed symptoms are not at risk for disease,” the health district said in a statement.
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