Hot tubs on private balconies were the most likely source of outbreaks of Legionnaires disease on two cruise ships between 2022 and 2024, according to the US body responsible for disease control (CDC).
Legionnaires disease is a potentially life-threatening pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria.
From November 2022 to June 2024, CDC was notified of 12 cases of Legionnaires disease among passengers on two cruise ships, which the body has chosen not to name.
There were eight cases on one ship and four on another. Multiple patients were hospitalised, but they all survived.
Following investigation, CDC said: “Epidemiologic, environmental, and laboratory evidence suggests that private balcony hot tubs were the likely source of exposure in two outbreaks of Legionnaires disease among cruise ship passengers.
“These devices are subject to less stringent operating requirements than are public hot tubs, and operating protocols were insufficient to prevent Legionella growth.”
CDC has recommended cruise lines evaluate the design features of any hot tubs in their fleets for features that increase the risk of bacteria growth, and test for Legionella.
“Hot tubs offer favourable conditions for Legionella growth and transmission when maintained and operated inadequately, regardless of location,” said the CDC report.
While private hot tubs on cruise ships aren’t subject to the same maintenance requirements as hot tubs in common areas, CDC said it is important for cruise lines to adapt the same maintenance and operations procedures to reduce the risk of legionella.
Six of the eight patients from cruise ship A were hospitalised, and an inspection of the ship’s 10 private balcony hot tubs revealed the legionella bacteria in six of them.
All four of the patients from ship B were hospitalised, and an inspection of its private balcony hot tubs revealed Legionella in all eight, plus in a single location in the potable water system.
CDC said: “Both cruise lines ultimately modified the operation and maintenance of the private hot tubs so that heating elements were removed; tubs were only filled upon guest request, drained between uses, and cleaned and disinfected more frequently. Ship A devices were additionally modified to remove filtration elements. Sampling is ongoing for both vessels.”
Image shows two of the hot tubs associated with cases of Legionnaires disease, before modification
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Legionnaires disease is a potentially life-threatening pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria.
From November 2022 to June 2024, CDC was notified of 12 cases of Legionnaires disease among passengers on two cruise ships, which the body has chosen not to name.
There were eight cases on one ship and four on another. Multiple patients were hospitalised, but they all survived.
Following investigation, CDC said: “Epidemiologic, environmental, and laboratory evidence suggests that private balcony hot tubs were the likely source of exposure in two outbreaks of Legionnaires disease among cruise ship passengers.
“These devices are subject to less stringent operating requirements than are public hot tubs, and operating protocols were insufficient to prevent Legionella growth.”
CDC has recommended cruise lines evaluate the design features of any hot tubs in their fleets for features that increase the risk of bacteria growth, and test for Legionella.
“Hot tubs offer favourable conditions for Legionella growth and transmission when maintained and operated inadequately, regardless of location,” said the CDC report.
While private hot tubs on cruise ships aren’t subject to the same maintenance requirements as hot tubs in common areas, CDC said it is important for cruise lines to adapt the same maintenance and operations procedures to reduce the risk of legionella.
Six of the eight patients from cruise ship A were hospitalised, and an inspection of the ship’s 10 private balcony hot tubs revealed the legionella bacteria in six of them.
All four of the patients from ship B were hospitalised, and an inspection of its private balcony hot tubs revealed Legionella in all eight, plus in a single location in the potable water system.
CDC said: “Both cruise lines ultimately modified the operation and maintenance of the private hot tubs so that heating elements were removed; tubs were only filled upon guest request, drained between uses, and cleaned and disinfected more frequently. Ship A devices were additionally modified to remove filtration elements. Sampling is ongoing for both vessels.”
Image shows two of the hot tubs associated with cases of Legionnaires disease, before modification
The post Hot tubs blamed for outbreaks of potentially deadly disease on two cruise ships appeared first on Travel Gossip.
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