Appalachian District Health Department (AppHealthCare) has issued a public health advisory warning travelers that three guests of the Meadowbrook Inn & Suites in Blowing Rock, N.C. have contracted Legionnaires’ Disease. (1)
According to Vicky McLean, the consulting general manager of the Meadowbrook Inn and Suites, the hotel was alerted about the three confirmed cases by Appalachian District Health Department on June 13th:
“The health department is looking at our hot tub as a potential source, but they told us the Legionella bacteria exists all over in nature … The state inspector said it can be spread in a radius of one mile … We discontinued use of the hot tub and immediately ordered a fast-reacting test kit, which can be administered in-house … The result was negative.” (2)
Environmental samples have also been sent to a specialized lab for further testing.
The three guests, who all stayed at the hotel at some point during the 10-day incubation period before illness onset, have been treated and are recovering. Although no definite source of exposure at the hotel or in the nearby Blowing Rock community has been identified, AppHealthCare is continuing its investigation. It has also issued the following recommendation for clinicians:
“We encourage clinicians to consider including testing for Legionnaire’s disease in the evaluation of patients who present with a clinically compatible illness and no other identified etiology from April 15, 2016 through present day. When possible, testing for Legionnaires’ disease should include culture of lower respiratory secretions on selective media and the Legionella urinary antigen test. Clinical isolates of Legionella are valuable for comparison with environmental samples while conducting Legionnaires’ disease investigations.” (1)
If You Were a Guest Recently at the Meadowbrook Inn & Suites
If you stayed at the Meadowbrook Inn & Suites between April 15 and June 15, 2016, you may have been exposed to the same Legionella pneumonia bacteria that made these three guests ill.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe pneumonia that is particularly dangerous for people over 50, are smokers, are immune-compromised, and / or have underlying medical conditions such as respiratory disease / COPD, cancer, or diabetes. It is contracted by breathing water vapor or aspirating contaminated potable water into the lungs; common sources include hot tubs, cooling towers, and poorly maintained heating / cooling systems. Initial symptoms, which present within 2 to 14 days of exposure to the bacteria, include chills, high fever, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, headaches, and confusion / hallucinations.
People who experience these symptoms should seek medical care immediately.
Hotel owners have a responsibility to maintain safe, disease-free environments for their guests. Part of this responsibility is to make sure the water systems are not contaminated with Legionella bacteria.
Sources:
- Public Health Advisory. “Legionnaire’s Disease in Three Persons Who Visited the Same Hotel in Blowing Rock, NC.” Appalachian District Health Department. Web. 22 Jun. 2016.
- Ruckstuhl, Laney and Eason, Jeff. “Meadowbrook Inn visitors contract Legionnaire’s disease.” Blowing Rocket.com. Web. 22 Jun. 2016.