Legionnaires outbreak

[Grom]

Hoping everyone here is well and enjoyed their trips with no illness!
I would imagine outbreaks of legionnaires or hepatitis are statistically rare because of hygiene and don’t affect most visitors to the parks.
Do you think Disney do a good job of reacting early on public health concerns?
Again aloha and best wishes to all who are visiting currently

 

[Geemo]

Hoping everyone here is well and enjoyed their trips with no illness!
I would imagine outbreaks of legionnaires or hepatitis are statistically rare because of hygiene and don’t affect most visitors to the parks.
Do you think Disney do a good job of reacting early on public health concerns?
Again aloha and best wishes to all who are visiting currently

Disneyland is no different that any place else you go once you leave home.
There are many germs out there on things you come in contact with.
That's why hand washing is so important.


Geemo

 

[Grom]

The infections happened in September and the cooling towers are clean now.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-disneyland-legionnaires-20171110-story.html

 

[Grom]

Disneyland is no different that any place else you go once you leave home.
There are many germs out there on things you come in contact with.
That's why hand washing is so important.

You ask...
Is there a specific concern you have?

Geemo

Does hand washing help with legionnaires? I thought it was spread by the cooling towers spraying the bacteria into people’s lungs.
The people got sick a couple months ago but the towers weren’t shut down and disinfected til November. I’m not a public health expert so was wondering if this is a normal response time.

 

[Geemo]

You're right Legionnaires is Air-Borne, not contact.

Here's a link to an article on the matter.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/11/dis...wers-after-visitors-develop-legionnaires.html

From the article, I feel Disney acted appropriately.

 

[WonkaKid]

I recall when there was a mumps outbreak that was traced to DL about 2.5 years ago. For days/weeks afterwards, I could smell many surfaces that had been disinfected. For example, the apple you (can) touch as you enter Snow White. I got to the ride at around 8:20 in the morning it was still dripping with a strong-smelling disinfectant.

 

[Geemo]

When there is an out break of any disease/illness that can be traced back to Disney, you know it will make the news.

I remember a measles out break a few years back in Orange County and DLR.

Cooties....... at DLR.....
Do you think it will affect the crowds.
I'll see how that works for my visit on Dec 12th.
I do have my doubts...

I'll take my chances at DLR just as I do when I go to the grocery store.

Geemo

 

[az4boys]

When it says cooling tower, what does that mean? Is it part of the AC system? Certain rides? I am curious how the bacteria got from the cooling towers to people's lungs. We were there in October and none of us got sick.

 

[cattywampus]

This news is incredibly disappointing and completely preventable. They clearly weren't maintaining their cooling towers.

A cooling tower is part of the HVAC system (air conditioning) used for large spaces. It uses circulated water in a closed system to provides cool air through room vents (from the cool water). The system then circulates the warm water back to the tower to re-cool it and send it back out again to continue the cooling cycle.

If the bacteria that causes legionnaires disease is present, it can be blown out through the vents (carried by small droplets of the system's water) and potentially inhaled, causing the disease. Just like other diseases, not everyone exposed will get sick and the bacteria may or may not have been present in the water during your visit. As I understand it, the bacteria can't live very long outside of water and you need to inhale it, to contract the disease (so you can't transmit person to person or from surfaces). Hand washing isn't the solution to this one.

Single Cooling towers are capable of covering large office buildings, indoor malls, etc., it would likely be used in rides like Pirates and other large indoor spaces (I have no idea what the subject tower(s) actually covered).

Cooling towers always have water in them, and sort of similar to a pool, must be monitored and treated regularly. It bothers me that 1) the bacteria was allowed to flourish; 2) they did not catch it through routine testing; and 3) the health department had to uncover the potentially fatal issue.

We have a trip planned in a few weeks and are traveling with an adult over 50 with chronic respiratory disease. If she were exposed, she would be in the category that is at greater risk for death.

While I'm sure this will be a huge wake up call, and the towers and HVAC systems will likely be extremely safe in the future, we are likely cancelling our five day trip. It's too soon to be sure it's fully handled and I'm not willing to risk it.

For a company known for its safety record, this is a pretty big black eye. It was so preventable.

 

[Grom]

This news is incredibly disappointing and completely preventable. They clearly weren't maintaining their cooling towers.

A cooling tower is part of the HVAC system (air conditioning) used for large spaces. It uses circulated water in a closed system to provides cool air through room vents (from the cool water). The system then circulates the warm water back to the tower to re-cool it and send it back out again to continue the cooling cycle.

If the bacteria that causes legionnaires disease is present, it can be blown out through the vents (carried by small droplets of the system's water) and potentially inhaled, causing the disease. Just like other diseases, not everyone exposed will get sick and the bacteria may or may not have been present in the water during your visit. As I understand it, the bacteria can't live very long outside of water and you need to inhale it, to contract the disease (so you can't transmit person to person or from surfaces). Hand washing isn't the solution to this one.

Single Cooling towers are capable of covering large office buildings, indoor malls, etc., it would likely be used in rides like Pirates and other large indoor spaces (I have no idea what the subject tower(s) actually covered).

Cooling towers always have water in them, and sort of similar to a pool, must be monitored and treated regularly. It bothers me that 1) the bacteria was allowed to flourish; 2) they did not catch it through routine testing; and 3) the health department had to uncover the potentially fatal issue.

We have a trip planned in a few weeks and are traveling with an adult over 50 with chronic respiratory disease. If she were exposed, she would be in the category that is at greater risk for death.

While I'm sure this will be a huge wake up call, and the towers and HVAC systems will likely be extremely safe in the future, we are likely cancelling our five day trip. It's too soon to be sure it's fully handled and I'm not willing to risk it.

For a company known for its safety record, this is a pretty big black eye. It was so preventable.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-disneyland-legionnaires-20171110-story.html

The above article mentions New Orleans Square as the location of both contaminated towers. Looks like Disney was aware but never reported it to the health authorities (county). It was the feds (Center for Disease Control) who reported it to the county after more than a dozen adults were infected, one died. Maybe it’s normal that Disney knew they had Legionnaires bacteria but didn’t notify any relevant agencies, like Health Dept nor CDC. I can see why you’d be worried about your relative with respiratory problems.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-disneyland-legionnaires-20171110-story.html

... It was the feds (Center for Disease Control) who reported it to the county after more than a dozen adults were infected, one died....

The local news here reported that the person who died had not even visited DLR, so that death does not seem to have been park related.

 

[Grom]

And also that the county has around 55 of these legionnaires cases a year but don’t know the cause of the recent increase.

 

[millie0312]

This news is incredibly disappointing and completely preventable. They clearly weren't maintaining their cooling towers.

A cooling tower is part of the HVAC system (air conditioning) used for large spaces. It uses circulated water in a closed system to provides cool air through room vents (from the cool water). The system then circulates the warm water back to the tower to re-cool it and send it back out again to continue the cooling cycle.

If the bacteria that causes legionnaires disease is present, it can be blown out through the vents (carried by small droplets of the system's water) and potentially inhaled, causing the disease. Just like other diseases, not everyone exposed will get sick and the bacteria may or may not have been present in the water during your visit. As I understand it, the bacteria can't live very long outside of water and you need to inhale it, to contract the disease (so you can't transmit person to person or from surfaces). Hand washing isn't the solution to this one.

Single Cooling towers are capable of covering large office buildings, indoor malls, etc., it would likely be used in rides like Pirates and other large indoor spaces (I have no idea what the subject tower(s) actually covered).

Cooling towers always have water in them, and sort of similar to a pool, must be monitored and treated regularly. It bothers me that 1) the bacteria was allowed to flourish; 2) they did not catch it through routine testing; and 3) the health department had to uncover the potentially fatal issue.

We have a trip planned in a few weeks and are traveling with an adult over 50 with chronic respiratory disease. If she were exposed, she would be in the category that is at greater risk for death.

While I'm sure this will be a huge wake up call, and the towers and HVAC systems will likely be extremely safe in the future, we are likely cancelling our five day trip. It's too soon to be sure it's fully handled and I'm not willing to risk it.

For a company known for its safety record, this is a pretty big black eye. It was so preventable.

The article I read from the times said Disney had treated it and taken the towers offline before they were notified about it due to their own testing, then after notification they re-cleaned again. I don’t know much about this particular disease but it seems like they acted in the right and I’d like to hope they do. Probably more costly to chance someone getting sick or worse and suing plus the bad publicity vs the cost of adequate maintenance. I do remember the measles outbreak too (we were there just before that time with a child who was too young for that vaccine) and it was very scary so any news like this always worries me as we go yearly with young kids....

 

[scrapshappen]

Coincidentally, I got a nasty case of what I assumed was bronchitis (diagnosed by a doctor first as an upper respiratory infection that set off my asthma and seven weeks later a sinus infection) after our Labor Day weekend visit. I admit when I heard this story I started wondering if it was really bronchitis at all. But it sounds like Disney did their due diligence. And there is a risk of getting sick anytime you come in contact with another human being. I'm a relatively healthy and active woman in my mid-40s so it's a risk I'm willing to take. Especially for Disney.

 

[Geemo]

Coincidentally, I got a nasty case of what I assumed was bronchitis (diagnosed by a doctor first as an upper respiratory infection that set off my asthma and seven weeks later a sinus infection) after our Labor Day weekend visit. I admit when I heard this story I started wondering if it was really bronchitis at all. But it sounds like Disney did their due diligence. And there is a risk of getting sick anytime you come in contact with another human being. I'm a relatively healthy and active woman in my mid-40s so it's a risk I'm willing to take. Especially for Disney.

I experience a similar situation as you for my DLR trips.
I find the longer the trip the more severe the respiratory issues will be for me.

I have always chocked it up to the Air Quality (smog) of SoCal.
And still do.

Geemo

 

[SteveMP]

I experience a similar situation as you for my DLR trips.
I find the longer the trip the more severe the respiratory issues will be for me.

I have always chocked it up to the Air Quality (smog) of SoCal.
And still do.

Geemo

I always attribute it to pretty much any hotel i go to no matter what city i visit. Similar no matter where i travel.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I always attribute it to pretty much any hotel i go to no matter what city i visit. Similar no matter where i travel.

Me too! The first thing I do in any hotel room is use sanitizing wipes everywhere... door handles, bathroom sink, counter, faucets and toilet, light switches, the TV remote, the phone and anything else that looks like it's commonly touched. Who knows if it really helps or not but it makes me feel better! None of us got sick on our recent trip, which is kind of a miracle ha ha.

 

[SteveMP]

Me too! The first thing I do in any hotel room is use sanitizing wipes everywhere... door handles, bathroom sink, counter, faucets and toilet, light switches, the TV remote, the phone and anything else that looks like it's commonly touched. Who knows if it really helps or not but it makes me feel better! None of us got sick on our recent trip, which is kind of a miracle ha ha.

Great idea! I noticed in various places in Europe how they seem to be more concious of this. The Munich airport for example has some of the cleanest bathrrooms i've ever seen. There are disinfecting wipes in each stall and a brush, and signs to use the wipes on the toilet seat and clean up after yourself. I also noticed some places recommeded using the disinfecting wipes on door handles as you exit the restroom and then toss the wipe. So you aren't ever touching the lever.

 

[scrapshappen]

I experience a similar situation as you for my DLR trips.
I find the longer the trip the more severe the respiratory issues will be for me.

I have always chocked it up to the Air Quality (smog) of SoCal.
And still do.

Geemo

Ironically, it was after our shortest trip to Disneyland this year. We were only in the parks one day and then ran the 10K the next day. Like I said, I'm relatively healthy over all. My asthma is very mild and I didn't even own an inhaler for a few years before this hit. So having a "cold" for two months is extremely unusual for me. The chances that I picked it up somewhere other than Disney are very, very possible too since it was several days later when it hit. And I could have picked up more than one bug along the way since I tried to keep up as normal a routine as possible, including traveling to California twice. But my husband saw the headline and shared the story with me and it had us both wondering a bit. But I'm 95% better now and back to normal activities so I'm not going to dwell on it.

 

[Linkura]

The chances that I picked it up somewhere other than Disney are very, very possible too since it was several days later when it hit.

Legionnaires' can take up to 10 days for symptoms to occur.

I also got sick when I went in September, but I did not have the symptoms of Legionnaires', and I often get sick when I travel anyway. Still, this is really concerning that it happened at all.