Legionnaires' Disease Traced To Parsippany Hilton's Water System

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Three guests who stayed last year at the Hilton/Hampton Inn Parsippany Hotel developed Legionnaires’ disease, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. The agency discovered Legionella bacteria in the building's water system and says that recent, current and future guests risk developing the disease.

The guests who contracted Legionnaires' stayed at the hotel (1 Hilton Ct.) between July and October. After the second case was identified in February, state health officials coordinated with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Health and Human Services Department on an outbreak investigation to determine if the hotel may have been the source of the infections.

Health officials received the water-testing results in April, which revealed the bacteria in the building's water system used for purposes such as showering, washing hands and brushing teeth.

People who stayed at Hilton Parsippany more than two weeks ago and haven't developed symptoms are no longer at risk of the disease as a result of their visit, the state health department said.

The risk of Legionnaires’ disease among healthy individuals is low, according to the state health department. Most healthy people exposed to Legionella don't develop the disease. But people older than 50, former or current smokers, or those with certain medical conditions — including weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease or other chronic health conditions — are at increased risk for Legionnaires’ disease.

About 1 in 10 people who get sick with Legionnaires’ disease will die from the illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. But the disease can be treated with antibiotics.

All guests who recently visited or plan to stay at Hilton Parsippany should monitor their health for two weeks for symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches and headaches, the state health department says. If symptoms develop within 14 days of their check-out date, they should immediately contact their health provider.

Legionnaires’ disease and COVID have similar symptoms, so it's important to seek medical care as soon as possible to receive appropriate testing and treatment, officials said.

The New Jersey Department of Health added the following:

"People can get Legionnaires’ disease by breathing in aerosolized water (small droplets of water in the air) containing Legionella bacteria. Aerosolized water can come from showerheads and sink faucets, hot tubs, decorative fountains, and cooling towers (air-conditioning units for large buildings). Less commonly, people can get sick by aspiration of tap water containing Legionella. This happens when water accidently goes into the lungs while drinking (“goes down the wrong pipe”). People at increased risk of aspiration water include those with swallowing difficulties.

Please call your Local Health Department if you were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease after visiting the Hilton/Hampton Inn Parsippany Hotel. In February 2022, the Department has distributed a request to public health agencies across the state and country to report cases of Legionnaires’ disease with a travel history to Parsippany-Troy Hills. Other state Health Departments can report cases among their residents to New Jersey Department of Health’s Communicable Disease Service at (609) 826-5964."