Health authorities in Las Vegas are currently looking into cases of Legionnaires’ disease that have been identified in individuals who were guests at two separate hotels.
On Thursday, the Southern Nevada Health District reported that two individuals who stayed at Caesars Palace, along with another person who stayed at The Orleans Hotel & Casino, have tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease. According to the SNHD, the guests of Caesars Palace who were affected had stayed at the establishment in the past year. The SNHD further stated that the latest rounds of environmental testing did not identify any Legionella bacteria.
Following two previously confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease among guests earlier this year, a new case has emerged at The Orleans Hotel & Casino. The SNHD stated that corrective measures were taken to address the water system on the premises, and testing after remediation did not reveal any Legionella bacteria. However, a third guest of the hotel was recently diagnosed with the disease, and environmental samples from the property have shown positive results for Legionella.
Legionnaires’ disease, a form of pneumonia, stems from the Legionella bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control explains that individuals can contract this illness by inhaling mist or unintentionally ingesting water containing the bacteria. These bacteria thrive in freshwater settings and raise health worries when they circulate within human-engineered water systems of buildings.
