Two tourists have Legionnaires’ disease after staying in same Hawaii hotel, officials say
Two tourists have Legionnaires’ disease after staying in the same hotel on a trip to Hawaii, health officials said.
Two people who stayed at The Grand Islander by Hilton in Waikiki have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, a type of pneumonia that usually isn’t passed from person to person, the Hawaii Department of Health said Wednesday, March 23.
The hotel guests didn’t overlap in their stays. The first person was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease in June. It wasn’t until March 6 or 7 that the second person was diagnosed, according to the health department.
“While the risk to the general public is low, cases of Legionnaires’ disease are on the rise nationwide,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble said in a news release. “Individuals who stayed at the Hilton Grand Islander in the last two weeks who develop symptoms or individuals who were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease after a stay at the Grand Islander are encouraged to seek medical attention.”
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia. People who develop it can have a cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and a headache.
About 10% of people who get sick from Legionnaires’ die from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People can develop the disease after they breathe in water that contains a certain kind of bacteria called Legionella. The bacteria often appears naturally in freshwater lakes or streams, according to the CDC.
“Legionella occurs naturally in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams,” the CDC said. “It can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made building water systems.”
Most people who are exposed to the bacteria don’t develop the disease, and it can be treated with antibiotics, according to the state health department. People who are older than 50, smoke or have a weakened immune system are at a greater risk of getting sick.
A Hilton Grand Vacations spokesperson said its guests’ safety is its top priority.
“We are taking several steps to ensure everyone’s safety, including temperature treating of systems, which was completed March 23,” the spokesperson said. “This non-chemical process is not harmful and only involves increasing water temperatures to systems at The Grand Islander.”
The Hawaii Department of Health is investigating the source of the illness, and it says the hotel is cooperating with that investigation. Officials did not say where the tourists were visiting from.
This story was originally published March 24, 2022 at 2:55 PM with the headline "Two tourists have Legionnaires’ disease after staying in same Hawaii hotel, officials say."