Las Vegas hotels investigate cases of Legionnaires’ disease among guests
By Chris Pandolfo, Fox Business
August 27, 2023 | 6:59am
Las Vegas health officials are currently investigating cases of Legionnaires’ disease among guests who stayed at two hotels in the city. According to a news release from the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), two guests at Caesars Palace and one guest at The Orleans Hotel & Casino have tested positive for the disease.
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the Legionella bacterium and can lead to pneumonia. The SNHD stated that the individuals who contracted the disease had stayed at Caesars Palace in the past 12 months. The most recent environmental testing did not detect any Legionella bacteria.
Efforts are currently underway to notify other guests who may have been exposed to the illness. The Orleans Hotel & Casino had previously experienced two confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease earlier this year. Remediation of the water system was conducted, and no Legionella bacteria were detected in subsequent testing. However, a third guest has since tested positive, and environmental samples have shown the presence of the bacteria.
The hotel is cooperating with health officials and is undergoing remediation and environmental testing to eliminate the bacteria and ensure the safety of its guests. David Strow, a spokesman for Boyd Gaming Corporation, which owns The Orleans, emphasized that guest safety is a top priority and that measures are in place to minimize risk.
Legionella bacteria typically reside in freshwater environments and can become a health concern when they grow and spread in human-made building water systems. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that people can become infected by breathing in mist or accidentally swallowing water containing the bacteria.
The number of Legionnaires’ disease cases reported to the CDC has been increasing since 2000, with nearly 10,000 cases reported in the US in 2018. Symptoms of the disease may include cough, shortness of breath, headache, and fever. Antibiotics can be used to treat the infection, and most individuals make a full recovery.
The CDC notes that while most healthy people are unlikely to contract Legionnaires’ disease after exposure to Legionella, certain risk factors, such as being over 50 years old, smoking or being a former smoker, having a weakened immune system, or having chronic lung disease, can increase the chances of getting sick.
SNHD has asked guests who stayed at Caesars Palace or The Orleans between August 1, 2023, and August 23, 2023, and experienced symptoms for up to 14 days to report their illness to the health district via a survey on its website.
The investigation into the cases of Legionnaires’ disease at these Las Vegas hotels serves as a reminder for individuals to be vigilant about their health and to seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms associated with the disease.