Five cases of Legionnaires’ disease are believed to be associated with The Guest House at Graceland. While the hotel remains open to the public, the aquatic facilities at the hotel are currently closed. The Shelby County Health Department is working with the Tennessee Department of Health to investigate this area of the hotel as the possible source of the Legionella bacteria. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that is contracted by inhaling mist or water vapor contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Not everyone who comes in contact with Legionella bacteria develops Legionnaires’ disease. Those that are more susceptible are people over the…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report provided data that in 2015, 6,079 cases of Legionnaires’ disease occurred nationwide. Of those cases, 2,809 occurred in 20 states and New York City, and among that figure, 468 cases were possibly associated with health care facilities, while 85 of those definitely were. Of the 85 cases confirmed to be associated with health care facilities, 68 of them- or 80%- were associated with long-term care facilities, and and 15- or 18%- were associated with hospitals. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of bacterial pneumonia caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria. The bacteria…
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 LA Fitness centers were under investigation for Legionella bacteria after a total of four club members were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. The fitness center located at 12700 South Orange Blossom Trail recently tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Now, the fitness center at 4792 Kirkman Road has also tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Both gyms were advised by the health department to hyperchlorinate the water and put filters on shower heads located within their facilities. The facilities are awaiting the follow-up test results to see if these measures have eliminated the risk of Legionella transmission. LA Fitness has reportedly hired…
Two inmates of the Franklin Medical Center prison hospital located at 1990 Harmon Ave in Columbus, Ohio were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. Administrators at the prison have indicated they are conducting environmental tests to determine the source of the Legionella bacteria responsible for these illnesses. Legionnaires’ disease is caused by inhaling Legionella bacteria either by drinking contaminated water or breathing in air that is contaminated with an aerosolized form of the bacteria, as often seen in mists from showers or spas. Not everyone who comes in contact with the bacteria becomes ill. However, those who are more likely to suffer from Legionella-related illness…
Earlier this month, a woman in her 90s living in the Upper East Side died after becoming ill with Legionnaires’ disease. Six others in the same area were diagnosed with the disease around the same time, and the only commonality between these individuals is the area in which they live. The source of the outbreak has not yet been identified. Health officials have been looking toward local cooling towers on buildings as the potential source of the outbreak, testing a total of 116 cooling towers in the Lenox Hill area. It is possible one of these local cooling towers contaminated…
Located at 3600 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis, Tennessee, The Guest House at Graceland is believed to be responsible for three individuals becoming ill with Legionnaires’ disease. The hotel, managed by Pyramid Hotel Group, just opened this past October, and has temporarily closed its hot tub and pool facilities since the reported illnesses. The Shelby County Health Department is currently investigating to identify the source of the outbreak at The Guest House, with hopes to prevent additional illnesses from occurring. Legionnaires’ disease symptoms can appear similar to pneumonia and include coughing, fever, shortness of breath, and muscle aches, and symptoms…
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…
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…