Unlucky Luxor Guests Get Legionnaires’ Disease

Unlucky Luxor Guests Get Legionnaires’ Disease

http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/138337464.html?hpt=he_c2

Three cases of Legionnaires’ Disease have been reported
to the Centers for Disease Control from the Southern Nevada
Health District. All three cases were guests of the Luxor Hotel
in Las Vegas. The first two cases were in the spring of 2011 and
the testing for Legionella bacteria was negative. In January 2012,
a third guest died from the disease and testing was positive.

Legionnaires’ Disease is a bacterial infection associated with water-
based aerosols that come from warm water sources. Senior
epidemiologist Brian Labus explained that when the hotel rooms
go unused for a period of time, when the faucets and showers
are turned on, the bacteria is kicked up into the air. Symptoms include
high fever, chills, cough, muscle aches and headaches. Symptoms
start two to fourteen days after being exposed to the bacteria.

The Luxor Hotel is cooperating with the Southern Nevada Health
District with immediate remediation procedures and is urging any
guests with symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease to seek medical
Attention.

This article is interesting because it reminds people that Legionnaires’
Disease is still a serious medical issue. It is estimated by the Bureau of
Communicable Disease Control that there are between 8,000 to 18,000
cases each year. Most people probably think they caught the flu while
traveling and don’t suspect Legionnaires’ Disease. Legionnaires’ Disease
was first named in 1976 when an outbreak of pneumonia infected 221 people
in Philadelphia at an American Legion convention.

I never liked the Luxor Hotel to begin with because going up past the first
floor made me feel sick and afraid of falling to my death. Now I have another
reason to stay away from that place.