Private hot tubs on board two cruise ships have been linked to outbreaks of a bacterial lung infection known as Legionnaires’ disease, a “serious pneumonia,” the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned.
On October 24, The CDC warned An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease was linked to private-use outdoor hot tubs on two cruise ships between November 2022 and July 2024, resulting in 12 people becoming infected.
The CDC did not mention the names of the cruise ships, only including European, Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries.
“Epidemiological, environmental, and laboratory evidence suggests that private balcony hot tubs were the likely source of exposure in the two Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks among cruise ship passengers,” the CDC stated in the report.
“These devices are subject to less stringent operating requirements than public hot tubs, and operating protocols were not adequate to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria.”
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious respiratory illness caused by Legionella bacteria, which thrive in water and can lead to severe pneumonia, according to the institute. Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
PHAC added that Legionnaires’ disease, named after a 1976 outbreak that killed 29 people at an American Legion conference, remains underreported, with fewer than 100 cases reported annually in Canada, although the true number is… It will likely be much higher.
PHAC added that people over the age of 40 and those with weakened immunity are particularly at risk of infection.
About the cruise ship outbreak
From December 2022 to May 2023, the CDC was first notified of five cases of Legionnaires’ disease among people who traveled on “Cruise Ship A” during a 14-day exposure period. All five cases were among passengers traveling on the same ship in November 2022.
Two additional cases associated with separate trips on Cruise Ship A were confirmed and reported to CDC between August and September 2023. In April 2024, another laboratory-confirmed case was identified in a guest who had traveled on the ship the previous month.
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Six patients were hospitalized and no patient died.
After investigating, the CDC ordered all 10 private balcony hot tubs to be closed and sampled, discovering Legionella bacteria in six of them.
The outbreak on cruise ship A is the largest outbreak of cruise-associated Legionnaires’ disease investigated by the CDC since 2008.
The second outbreak occurred aboard Cruise Ship B, where the CDC received reports of four confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease among passengers who traveled on the ship between February and July 2024. Four patients were hospitalized, but none died.
In response to the outbreak, the CDC requested “the immediate closure of all hot tubs on board, including those in common areas and private balconies, and sampling of all hot tubs and representative potable water locations.”
Bacteria were discovered in all eight of the balcony hot tubs on the ship.
The CDC said cruise operators on both ships informed guests and crew of possible exposure to Legionella bacteria while investigations were ongoing.
“Both cruise lines eventually modified the operation and maintenance of their private hot tubs so that the heating elements were removed; the tubs were only filled at the guest’s request, drained between uses, and cleaned and disinfected frequently. Ship A’s hardware was also modified to remove elements Nomination The CDC said sampling is continuing for both ships.
About Legionnaires’ disease
Legionnaires’ disease is not common, and the risk of contracting it is generally very low, PHAC said.
Cases of Legionnaires’ disease may be difficult to detect because very few people exposed to the bacteria become infected. For example, PHAC said that if 100 people were exposed to the bacteria, fewer than five of them would develop Legionnaires’ disease.
The disease is spread by inhaling Legionella bacteria via droplets or water vapor from a contaminated water source, such as evaporative cooling systems, hot tubs, and decorative water features.
Older people and people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to the disease.
In addition to pneumonia, symptoms can include fever, cough, muscle aches, and headache. Symptoms begin within 2 to 14 days of infection and can last for several months.
If symptoms persist, PHAC advises consulting your healthcare provider, as most cases can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
&Copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
