Legionnaires’ disease is caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella. The bacteria got its name in 1976 when many people who went to a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion suffered from an outbreak of this disease, a type of pneumonia.
The CDC explains that Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment, usually in water. The bacteria grow best in warm water, like the kind found in hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, or parts of the air-conditioning systems of large buildings. They do not seem to grow in car or window air-conditioners, according to the CDC.
The CDC further explains that people get Legionnaires’ disease when they breathe in a mist or vapor (small droplets of water in the air) that has been contaminated with the bacteria. One example might be from breathing in the steam from a whirlpool spa that has not been properly cleaned and disinfected.
The Journal understands that cases included two elderly women who were reportedly affected last year and at least one more case was reported this year. The CDC has informed of both confirmed and unconfirmed cases of the potentially fatal disease at the Freeport resort, whose name the Journal has decided not to disclose.
Health and tourism officials were reportedly extremely concerned about the disease because it is extremely contagious and potentially deadly if not properly treated.
Officials had kept quiet about the presence of Legionnaires’ disease in Grand Bahama. Key tourism and health officials have refused to return calls from The Bahama Journal on the matter.
The Journal understands that Dr. Julian Smith, a medical officer at the Public Health Department’s surveillance section, was working closely with the team addressing the problem, and he had reportedly warned of the seriousness of the situation.
However, Dr. Smith had no comment on the matter when he spoke with the Bahama Journal briefly on Monday.
Minister of Health Dr. Hubert Minnis confirmed on Tuesday that Legionnaires’ was confirmed at the resort.
He advised that this kind of information could be damaging to the property in question, and assured that resort officials had adhered to all the guidelines and recommendations made by health officials to address the problem.
Dr. Minnis said the matter was properly addressed and all was back to normal at the resort. He said Legionella bacteria would more likely be detected in hotels that have been closed for a long time, but the property in question has remained in operation.
Late last month, the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) agreed to issue a public health order to the resort mandating it to adopt all of the 14 recommendations contained on a fact sheet on Legionnaires’, according to documents viewed by the Journal during its probe into the matter.
According to sources, the health order was never issued.
But DEHS has agreed to monitor the property periodically and reported that it was satisfied that resort officials had responded properly to the situation.
On Tuesday, Dr. Minnis said he too was satisfied that management had followed the 14-point plan.
Asked whether health officials were concerned by the situation at the Freeport resort, the health minister said, "Health officials are concerned about any illness that comes into the Bahamas, be it flu or [any other illness.]"
A resort official also spoke to the Bahama Journal. While the official denied that there had been any confirmed cases of Legionnaire’s disease at the property, the official assured that the resort had followed all recommendations made by tourism officials.
According to information viewed by the Bahama Journal, officials at the resort were facing challenges with their water supply, and they also had problems maintaining appropriate temperature levels.
Dr. Minnis assured, "This is under control."
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