On July 14 the R-J broke the story that six guests of CityCenter's Aria resort had been infected with Legionnaires' disease during their stay, when the hotel posted a warning page on its website.
A severe and potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by exposure to the Legionella bacterium, symptoms of the disease include high fever, chills, fatigue, and a cough that begins two to 14 days after exposure. To contract Legionnaires' disease, you must inhale contaminated aerosolized water (i.e., mist or vapor), for example by taking a long shower, or using whirlpool jets in a bathtub. Those with weak immune systems, smokers, and the elderly are most at risk of contracting the disease.
It turns out that the cases at Aria stretch back to December 2009, not long after the resort's opening, but officials explained they only now needed to contact those guests who stayed at the hotel during the period June 21 to July 4, due to the incubation period of the disease. Letters were sent out to guests on July 13 stating that "in an abundance of caution, we are attempting to notify guests who may have been exposed to these bacteria during this short period" and encouraging anyone with possible symptoms to see their doctor. The six people known to have contracted Legionnaires' disease have all since been treated successfully.
Although the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta apparently informed the Southern Nevada Health District of two suspected cases of Legionnaire's disease at Aria last year, an environmental assessement carried out in June of this year appeared to reveal a healthy hot water system and initially the decision was made not to test the water, since it's a costly undertaking that could run $1,000/room. However, when additional cases of the disease were linked to the hotel, Aria's water was tested and the disease-causing bacterium detected in the bathrooms of several guest rooms, in either the faucets or shower. A full cleansing process was then implemented, which involves closing down blocks of rooms and letting chlorine sit in the water pipes overnight. All subsequent tests have come back clean, Aria reports, but the property is continuing to monitor water quality on a regular basis.
