Las Vegas Health officials recently reported that the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease was found in water samples taken from the Luxor hotel-casino after a guest passed away from the disease last month.
According to the Huffington Post, the Southern Nevada Health District said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention national surveillance program found three cases of the disease, which is caused by the Legionella bacteria, in Luxor guests in the past year.
These cases come as the MGM Resorts, which owns the Luxor, is facing litigation by previous guests who claim they were infected with the disease at the Aria Resort & Casino, another hotel the management group owns.
Legionella is naturally occurring in the environment in fresh water and symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease usually begin with two weeks of being exposed to the bacteria, according to the district. Between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized each year because of the disease and it can cause death in up to 30 percent of the cases, says district officials.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by contaminated water, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to learn about your options.