Bacteria that could cause Legionnaires’ disease has been found in the water at the Luxor Las Vegas resort and casino, which may have contribued to the death of at least one guest.
The Southern Nevada Health District has issued a Legionnaires’ disease public health notice regarding the Luxor Resort after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noticed that three cases of the pneumonia-causing illness had hit visitors there over the last year, one of whom died.
Environmental sampling of the hotel’s water discovered Legionella bacteria earlier this month.
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Learn MoreThe first two cases occurred in the spring of 2011. Health inspectors investigated the hotel then, but found no sign of the bacteria.
State officials say the Luxor has worked cooperatively with the health district and has begun an immediate remediation of its water management system. State officials did not say where in the hotel’s water system the bacteria was found.
The Luxor Las Vegas is a 4,400-room resort casino owned by MGM Resorts International. MGM officials indicates that all of the hotels test for Legionella bacteria regularly and take preventative measures. However, the company already faces Legionnaires’ disease lawsuits from eight guests who say they contracted the disease at the Aria Resort & Casino last summer, which MGM also owns. Those guests are seeking $337.5 million in damages.
Legionnaire’s disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection that hospitalizes between 8,000 and 18,000 people each year, according to the CDC. It produces symptoms similar to those of pneumonia, which can include high fever, chills, muscle aches and cough. The disease is fatal in 5% to 30% of cases.
Legionalla bacteria may be found in warm water, and can be present in hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks and large plumbing or air conditioning systems. It is contracted by breathing in mist or vapor contaminated with the bacteria, but cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
Photo Courtesy of luisvilla via Flickr CC 2.0
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4 Comments
DanielFebruary 27, 2012 at 4:34 pm
I just got back from a 5 night stay at the luxor and came home to a very high fever 103.5, very sick, vomiting and sever congestion in my lungs. After three days of being home I began coughing up small droplet of blood. I went to the DR immediately to have chest rads. Still waiting on the doctor to call me back. NEVER STAY AT THIS HORRIBLE HOTEL!!!!
lindseyFebruary 14, 2012 at 9:03 am
I was a guest in the luxor right in the beginning of the summer of 2011 and became very sick at the beginning of fall. I kept getting flu like symptoms, fevers and such and paying for antibiotics and it would go away then come back again. Then right before Christmas I had got pneumonia and almost let it go thinking I was just getting the flu again. It really has me worried about this disease with [Show More]I was a guest in the luxor right in the beginning of the summer of 2011 and became very sick at the beginning of fall. I kept getting flu like symptoms, fevers and such and paying for antibiotics and it would go away then come back again. Then right before Christmas I had got pneumonia and almost let it go thinking I was just getting the flu again. It really has me worried about this disease with the fact I had stayed at the luxor and I do not have health benefits. Now I'm worried about my health.
lindseyFebruary 14, 2012 at 8:58 am
I was a guest in the luxor right in the beginning of the summer of 2021 and became very sick at the beginning of fall. I kept getting flu like symptoms, fevers and such and paying for antibiotics and it would go away then come back again. Then right before Christmas I had got pneumonia and almost let it go thinking I was just getting the flu again. It really has me worried about this disease with [Show More]I was a guest in the luxor right in the beginning of the summer of 2021 and became very sick at the beginning of fall. I kept getting flu like symptoms, fevers and such and paying for antibiotics and it would go away then come back again. Then right before Christmas I had got pneumonia and almost let it go thinking I was just getting the flu again. It really has me worried about this disease with the fact I had stayed at the luxor and I do not have health benefits. Now I'm worried about my health.
VickieJanuary 31, 2012 at 4:39 pm
I was a guest at Luxor Dec. 30-Jan. 2nd,after 14 day's i become ill with flu like symptom,s missed four day,s from work,i had no idea it may have caused from water at the Casino.