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StumblePublished Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 | 9:18 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, June 2, 2009 | 4:02 p.m.
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The Southern Nevada Health District has issued a warning after four guests of Polo Towers were diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease. The disease was discovered in guests who stayed at the hotel in October and November 2007, and August and September this year. All four victims were treated and have recovered, the health district said.
Water samples were taken from the hotel after health officials learned of the outbreak.
"Preliminary results of these tests have confirmed that the bacteria that cause the illness were present in water samples taken last week," chief health officer Lawrence Sands wrote in a letter dated Thursday.
The letter issued by the Southern Nevada Health District is available here.
Because the County took over 9 months to take action the last time there was an outbreak at Polo Towers and the impact such an outbreak could have on tourism they committed to implement guidelines for control of legionella in Clark County, was this ever done?
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2003/apr...
Arrived after 10 hour flight from London. -- pretty tired. Went to Polo Towers. At the arrivals desk a smart intelligent looking man welcomed us and asked if were we checking in. He then said 'Are you aware of the Legionnaires problem in the hotel?'
He said 'Have you heard that we have had a Legionnaires disease in the hotel?'
I said 'What?' I really could not believe that I was standing in the lobby of a building with Legionnaires disease in it.
When I think of all the precautions we have to take now to keep healthy -especially when flying -
Bloody Marvelous.
He said now thinking I was a complete cretin 'Last year a couple of people were taken seriously ill with Legionnaires disease and you should have been informed.
Well, now I start to relax again and I say 'Are you saying that it was over a year ago?' looking around me now at a few people going about their lives as though nothing is wrong.
Not panicking as I would have expected if this was a serious problem. Running around shouting 'This hotel is unclean leave immediately'
He says ' I do not know exactly when but there have been four cases in total -- there is the notice here explaining it.'
I take a quick look -- Legionnaires disease -- Pneumonia -- Very old or very young people most at risk. I show it to Christine. She agrees not to worry. So we agree to check in.
As we are leaving to go to our room the nice hotel clerk hands us an envelope that gives a message about the problem that we can read when we get to our room.
Great apartment -- kitchen, separate bedroom and lounge. Excellent -- I decide to open the letter. It outlines the problems the hotel has been having with Legionnaire's disease and that the last two reported cases were August and September 2008. What? My nose starts twitching and I am trying not to breath.
I phone up reception and say I do want to stay here after all -- they said they would arrange another hotel and would call us back in fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes are you joking we are not staying locked in this room 5 minutes with the air conditioning blasting out its potentially deadly carrying germs.
No we were off mate. Re-packed and down to the lobby in 3 minutes flat. I went over to the desk and informed the intelligent looking desk clerk that he was in fact a dork and had misinformed us at the beginning! He said he did not know that the cases had been so recent as he had not read the letter. Well he knows now!
It took over an hour for them to re-allocate our booking to the Monte Carlo across the strip and then they kindly gave us $5 to pay for the taxi. Which was nice.....
I bought some mouthwash immediately as I now had a sore throat and every time I cough I keep wondering ---- Legionnaire's ???
By the way we are not alone in our fears -- when we arrived at the Monte Carlo, the check in clerk said that several other people had been transferred to them from the Polo Towers.
Why are they still accepting guests?
We, a friend and I, were allowed to stay at the Polo on the 18th of October! The next morning, after fully realizing the danger we had been expose to and after having taken a shower, drank the coffee and allowed the non-stop air conditioner blow on us all night.
We packed and when to the front desk. A very ignorant and uncaring desk clerk told us we would have to come back in 4 hours when the manager was there. After that encounter, I just got in the car and drove back to San Diego.
I have been to the doctor. But it was apparently too soon because I had no symptoms at that time. However, I now have flu like symptoms and am very concerned since I am a smoker and 63 years old...both of which make me vulnerable to Legionaire desease.
I find it unbelievable that they would continue to let people stay at the hotel, especially on the 18th when they say in the report that they had already found the bacteria present and where waiting for a more fuller report on Monday.
Absolute no concern for peoples health or life!
WHY ARE THE POLO TOWERS ALLOWED TO REMAIN OPEN?????????
THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BACK IN 2001.
SLOW REPORTING BY THE SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH DISTRICT.
HEY GUYS SOLVE THE PROBLEM OR CLOSE THIS TRASH HEAP.