They got more than what they paid extra for.
More than a dozen cruise ship passengers (including 10 who are hospitalized) have contracted Legionnaires’ disease on two different ships, according to a new report, and health experts believe private luxury amenities were the source of the infections. I think there is.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention traced the cause of the severe pneumonia-like illness to private balcony hot tubs provided in luxury cabins on two ships. According to a study published last week.
Vacationers fell ill on two different ships of an unidentified cruise company between November 2022 and July this year.
The CDC said in its report that after months of testing, private hot tubs, which don’t require as frequent and rigorous cleaning and maintenance as public bathtubs, were found to be a source of troublesome infections. Ta.
Eight passengers on one cruise ship contracted Legionnaires’ disease, and four on the other. Some travelers became ill during the same voyage, while others became ill during separate trips on the same ship.
Hot tubs appear to have created the perfect environment for Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaires’ disease, to live undetected for months.
On the first ship, hot tubs on private balconies were found to have been operating for several months in a manner that was conducive to the growth of Legionella bacteria. F to 113°F) “drained and operational without any disinfectant residue,” the CDC said.
According to the test results, six of the 10 private balcony hot tubs on the first ship tested positive for Legionella bacteria, and all eight private balcony hot tubs on the second ship tested positive for Legionella bacteria.
All hot tubs were closed and thoroughly cleaned. Since then, both cruise ships have taken more precautions, including filling bathtubs only on guest request, draining them between uses, cleaning and disinfecting more frequently, and removing heating elements. Masu.
Hot tubs, such as those found on cruise ships, are often a perfect breeding ground for Legionella bacteria.
However, cruises are also known to cause outbreaks of various viruses and diseases due to the close proximity of guests in a closed environment.
Late last month, 180 passengers and three crew members on Royal Caribbean Cruises contracted a gastrointestinal illness with unpleasant symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. According to the CDC.
