Updated March 7 with information shared with guests. Two guests who stayed at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in December 2022 and January 2023 developed Legionnaires’ disease, according to the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD). The hotel is now trying to contact guests who have stayed at the hotel since December 16, 2022.
People get Legionnaires’ disease, a severe, often fatal, form of pneumonia when they inhale water droplets that are contaminated with Legionella bacteria. It is not transmitted through person-to-person contact. Outbreaks are often linked to fountains, hot tubs, and the plumbing systems of commercial buildings.
Did you get Legionnaires’ Disease from a Hotel?
As part of an environmental study it conducted in response to reports of illness, the SNHD collected water samples and the facility arranged for additional environmental testing of its water system. Results of these tests showed the presence of Legionella and the hotel enacted a remediation plan.
Gonzaga fans staying at the hotel for the West Coast Conference basketball tournament which began March 6 received notices that the hotel’s water system recently tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease. Reporters from the Spokesman-Review who are staying at the hotel as they cover the tournament received a notice warning against the use of the shower.
According to the paper, the notice read, “Until the system is fully treated, taking a shower or a bath with the jets running may put you at risk by breathing water in the air. Taking a normal bath, handwashing, or drinking water would not pose an elevated risk.”
Symptoms of Legionnaieres’ Disease
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease will usually appear within two to 10 days of exposure but can take up to two weeks. They include high fever, headaches, cough, shortness of breath, and muscle aches. Legionnaires’ disease is treated with antibiotics, but cases often require hospitalization.
People are at greater risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease include:
- People over 50
- Current and former smokers
- People with chronic lung disease
- People with weakened immune systems
Related
Can I get Legionnaires’ Disease From a Hotel?
Can I Sue a Hotel for Legionnaires’ Disease?
Our Legionnaires’ Disease Legal Team
Our Legionnaires’ lawyers represent Legionella outbreak victims and their families. For the past 40 years, we have been representing people who developed serious illnesses because corporate wrongdoers failed to put water safety plans in place. Our lawyers have obtained multiple settlements of over $1 million for clients who developed Legionnaires’ disease after staying at a hotel that failed to properly maintain and clean its water system.
One of the first steps you should take after being diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease is to consult with an experienced lawyer. For a free consultation with one of our lawyers, please call 612-338-0202, text 612-261-0856, or fill out the form below.