Updated January 16 after hot tub is identified as the likely source. A hot tub has been identified as the likely source of a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield, NH that includes at least two guests, state health officials told WMUR. A woman from Massachusetts died after her October stay and a person from Rhode Island was hospitalized in December, State Epidemiologist, Dr. Benjamin Chan, told the channel. Both women were exposed to the hot tub.
Do you need a Legionnaires’ disease lawyer?
People get Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia, when they inhale water vapor contaminated with Legionella. These bacteria grow best in the warm water of commercial plumbing systems, fountains, hot tubs, and other manmade structures. It is not contagious.
Because water management plans can prevent the overgrowth of Legionella, they are considered an industry standard in healthcare settings, hotels, and other commercial buildings, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At this time, It is not clear what plan the resort has in place.
New Hampshire Health Department Action Alert
On December 29, 2023, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services issued a health action alert titled “Legionnaires’ Disease Cases Associated with Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield, NH.” It states that an investigation is ongoing and that healthcare providers seeing patients with Legionnaires’ disease symptoms should ask about travel within the last two weeks.
When two people posted a link to a WCVB story: Massachusetts resident dies of Legionnaires’ disease after stay at New Hampshire resort on Mountain View Grand Resort’s Facebook page, the resort responded:
“Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa is fiercely committed to the well-being of all those who walk through the door. The state confirmed they cannot be certain where these individuals contracted their infection, and we are working closely with the New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services and New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to determine if the two individuals were affected as a result of visiting the property in Fall of 2023. We are continuing to follow our stringent and consistent protocols to ensure the utmost health and safety of our guests and employees while we await test results recently conducted to confirm the potential source.”
Massachusetts Woman Dies from Legionnaires’ Disease After a Stay at Mountain View Grand Resort
Henry Kruschwitz told WMUR that he and his wife, Barbara Kruschwitz, a 71-year-old physical therapist and yoga instructor, stayed at the resort in October and she died from Legionnaires’ disease one week later. Mr Kruschwitz said his wife swam in the pool and used the hot tub but he did not.
He told WMUR that the resort should have done more to prevent a second person from getting sick. “It’s harder to figure out, kind of fathom, that now that a second person has gotten sick. That’s unacceptable,” Kruschwitz told the station. “You don’t want to see anybody else go through what I went through.”
According to WMUR, the hot tub at the resort is now closed.
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease
Most people who get Legionnaires’ disease require hospitalization. About 10 percent of cases are fatal. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are similar to the flu. They include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Muscle aches
These symptoms usually appear within two weeks of exposure
Experienced Legionnaires’ Disease Legal Team
Pritzker Hageman is one of the few law firms in the country with experience representing clients in Legionnaires’ disease lawsuits. Our Legionnaires’ lawyers represent Legionella outbreak victims and their families who have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one. For a free consultation with the Pritzker Hageman Legionnaires’ Legal Team, please call 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or fill out the form below.