Hotel hot tub closed after 2 developed Legionnaires’ disease and 1 died, officials say
.jpg "This undated image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a large grouping of Legionella pneumophila bacteria (Legionnaires’ disease).")
A hot tub at a New Hampshire hotel is closed after two guests were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease and one died, according to health officials.
The disease is caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria, which was recently found in the hot tub at the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa in Whitefield during testing, the state Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to McClatchy News in a statement Jan. 19.
The two guests went into the hot tub during their stays, potentially resulting in their illnesses, according to the agency.
“The department believes the hot tub may have been the source of Legionella exposure for the two individuals with Legionnaires’ disease identified in December, since both individuals were exposed to the hot tub,” the statement said.
The guest who died was from Massachusetts, McClatchy News previously reported. The other guest, a Rhode Island resident, was hospitalized and released, public information officer Maddie Miller told McClatchy News on Jan. 2.
The Department of Health and Human Services continues to investigate and is working with the resort.
The hot tub poses no threat to the public, according to the agency, and additional Legionnaires’ disease cases linked to the investigation haven’t been identified.
Legionnaires’ disease is a “serious type of pneumonia,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people won’t develop Legionnaires’ disease after an exposure to the bacteria if they’re healthy.
The bacteria is found in bodies of freshwater and can grow in the water supplies of buildings.
“The initial testing has not detected Legionella in the resort’s water system, nor any other sources of ongoing Legionella exposure,” the state Department of Health and Human Services said.
In a statement to McClatchy News on Jan. 22, the resort said “tests conducted by New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services detected a trace level of Legionella bacteria in the property’s hot tub filter.”
“It is unclear at this time, and may never be known, if the trace amounts of Legionella were of the same bacterium that led to the illness of two former guests. The indoor hot tub, when operational, was a self-contained system and the trace amount of Legionella was isolated from the rest of the property,” the resort said.
When someone breathes in tiny water droplets with Legionella bacteria, they can become infected, according to the CDC. Legionnaires’ disease doesn’t typically spread among people, but there is a rare possibility of it.
The CDC says those most at risk are adults 50 and older, people who smoke or used to smoke, those with weaker immune systems, and people with other health conditions, including chronic lung disease, cancer, diabetes, kidney or liver failure.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the property immediately drained, closed, and eliminated the hot tub and there are no plans to re-open it,” the resort’s statement said. “Mountain View will continue to work closely with the DPHS to ensure the health and safety of our guests.”
This story was originally published January 19, 2024 at 2:59 PM with the headline "Hotel hot tub closed after 2 developed Legionnaires’ disease and 1 died, officials say."
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