They got much more than what they paid extra for.
a dozen cruise ship passengers were sick with Legionnaires’ disease — including 10 people who were hospitalized — on two separate ships, and health experts believe a private luxury facility is the source, according to a new report.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked a serious illness, such as pneumonia, to private balcony hot tubs offered on upper-class cabins inside two ships, According to a study published last week,
Vacationers on two different boats from unidentified cruise lines between November 2022 and last July became ill.
After months of testing, private hot tubs — which do not require as frequent and rigorous cleaning and maintenance as their public counterparts — were found to be the source of the worst outbreak, the CDC said in its report.
Eight passengers on one cruise ship became infected with Legionnaires’ disease while four passengers on another boat became infected. Some passengers became ill during the same voyage while others became ill on the same ship but during a different voyage.
Hot tubs apparently created the perfect environment for Legionella bacteria, which cause Legionnaires’ disease, to live for many months without being detected.
On the first ship, private balcony hot tubs “were found to function for months in a manner favorable to Legionella growth, including maintaining water temperatures in the Legionella growth range (77°F-113°F) for several days.” Drain and operate without any residual disinfectant,” the CDC said.
According to test results, six of the 10 private balcony hot tubs on the first ship were positive for Legionella bacteria, and all eight private balcony hot tubs on the second ship were positive for Legionella bacteria.
All hot tubs were turned off and thoroughly cleaned. Both cruise ships have since implemented more preventative measures including filling tubs only at guests’ request, emptying them between uses, cleaning and disinfecting more frequently, and removing heating elements.
Hot tubs – on cruise ships or elsewhere – are often ideal breeding grounds for Legionella bacteria.
But cruises are also considered a driver of the spread of various viruses and diseases due to the proximity of guests in closed environments.
Late last month, 180 Royal Caribbean cruise passengers and three crew members Came down with gastrointestinal illness Unpleasant symptoms such as diarrhea and stomach cramps, According to CDC.
