During this year’s CES conference, Site 1001, a company which specializes in artificial intelligence-run facilities management systems and previously spun off of JE Dunn Construction Co. showcased its artificial intelligence driven predictive maintenance system. Essentially, with any artificial intelligence driven facility, not only should the program be able to access information about every aspect of the building, but also be able to have the program automatically solve any problem which may arise on its own. The way to do this, according to Site 1001, is through neural networks that copy how sentient creatures think. As such, one prominent example of this kind…
In June 2017, a guest who had stayed at the Guest House of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ (EPE) Graceland estate in Memphis, TN had passed away. Three months later, the widow and family members sued EPE, claiming that the victim had contracted Legionnaires’ disease from the estate’s hot tub and swimming pool. Now 7 months after that initial death, it is being reported that EPE is filing a separate lawsuit against two particular pool companies involved with the upkeep and maintenance of the hot tub and swimming pool. Apparently officials with EPE are claiming in their own lawsuit that these two pool…
In our previous post, we discussed first steps for institutions to take in order to develop an effective water management plan to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease. And while it is certainly true that Legionnaires’ disease can occur within larger buildings, including older structures with older pipes, there is also the potential to encounter Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires’ disease with outdoor activities, including through gardening. There are a couple of reasons for this. As this site has discussed before, Legionella bacteria often forms in stagnant and standing pools of water, particularly when this water happens to be warm. When…
ASHRAE 188 is an industry standard dealing with preventing Legionnaires’ disease in water systems in buildings in the United States. Unfortunately, the standard does not go far enough. While it does require the development of a water management plan, it does not require testing for the presence of legionella (the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease) in the water supply. This often leads to a person contracting Legionnaires’ disease and then testing for the presence of the bacteria. This is the proverbial canary in the coal mine scenario, where the miners only knew there was gas after it had spread throughout…
A patient of St. Patrick Hospital recently tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Subsequent tests of the water supply at the hospital revealed its water was contaminated with the bacteria. The hospital’s remediation plans include installing medical-grade water filters on the faucets and shower heads. Not everyone who is exposed to Legionella bacteria is at risk for becoming ill. Most susceptible individuals tend to be of advanced age and/or have underlying medical conditions. The hospital is also providing patients with bottled water and keeping them up to date on remediation developments. If you believe you or someone you know has been…
The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District has issued a control order against the hotel after four cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported between October 2016 and August 17, 2017. Located in Lacy Lakeview, Texas, the hotel has reportedly performed investigations to attempt to locate the source of the bacteria since the first two cases emerged in October of 2016, and the pool was shut down in May 2017 after the third case was reported. The source has still yet to be identified. Due to growing concerns, the Health Department issued the hotel to: • Hire a qualified consultant to assist…
The hot tub and pool facilities at the Guest House at Graceland have been linked to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease involving 9 people so far. Jules Zacher, Esq., has been retained by one of the individuals who is believed to be associated with this outbreak. The pool facilities were closed while the Shelby County Health Department completed their investigation, but as of Wednesday, July 19, 2017, the hotel was allowed to reopen their aquatics. Test results of the water taken from the facilities since news of the suspected outbreak broke now show that Legionella bacteria would no longer be able…
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…
Over the past few weeks, several news reports have shed light on three Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks occurring in different areas in the United States. Each of these Outbreaks (New York City with multiple locations, The LA Fitness Gym and the Las Vegas Outbreak at the Rio Hotel) have resulted in multiple victims who contracted the disease including one woman who died as a result of Legionnaires’ disease as part of the NYC Outbreak. These three outbreaks continue the trend that we have seen over the last 15 years. Legionnaires’ disease is on the rise. According to a Dailymail.com article, the…
Hotel officials stated Tuesday that the Rio All-Suite’s water has been disinfected, but said it will take another couple weeks for test results before regional health officials can certify the property as bacteria-free. This after, officials from Caesars Entertainment confirmed that the bacteria had been found in at least one of the Rio’s two towers. The officials were not clear on the details of where exactly legionella, the bacteria which causes Legionnaires’ disease, was found on the hotel property. You or someone you know stayed at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas and have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, please,…