Round Rock Hotel Forced To Close After Legionnaire's Disease Outbreak

ROUND ROCK, TX — A Round Rock hotel was closed after an outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease that sickened five people, according to reports on Thursday.

The closure of the SpringHill Suites hotel, 2960 Hoppe Trail, was prompted after health officials confirmed the cases of the disease, KVUE and other media outlets reported. Williamson County Health Department officials told the news station three hotel guests, one employee and a fifth person took ill after exposure to legionella bacteria at the lodging facility.

Two cases of the disease were initially reported on Friday, health officials told the station, while another pair were confirmed on Monday. Officials of the hotel said a fifth case was confirmed Wednesday. All five victims had been in the hotel at various times this past summer, hotel officials said.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Legionnaires' disease doesn't spread from person to person. Instead, the bacteria spreads through mist, such as from air-conditioning units for large buildings. Adults over the age of 50 and people with weak immune systems, chronic lung disease, or heavy tobacco use are most at risk. Many people exposed to the bacteria don't develop symptoms, but those who do may experience cough, fever, chills, shortness of breath, muscle aches, headaches, and diarrhea. Legionnaire's disease can be treated with antibiotics, such as azithromycin or ciprofloxacin.

SpringHill Suites officials issued a prepared statement in response to media queries:

"The SpringHill Suites Austin Round Rock recently received notice from the Williamson County, TX, Health District that it is investigating reported incidents of Legionnaires Disease. The investigation centers on four individuals who had been at the hotel at various times this past summer; a fifth person was identified yesterday.

"In consultation with the Williamson County Health District, and with an abundance of caution, the hotel has already engaged an expert third-party firm that specializes in remediating environmental health issues. Both this firm and the hotel are continuing to work hand-in-hand with the Health District to identify any possible source of contamination and rectify them immediately.

"The hotel also voluntarily elected to close the property to guests beginning on Wednesday, October 4th at 5 p.m. CDT. The hotel anticipates it will remain closed until the remediation can be fully completed and the property clears all inspections. This process, and the subsequent inspections, typically take about three weeks. We hope that the hotel, after obtaining approval from the Health Department, may be able to reopen by about Oct. 24.

"The SpringHill Suites Austin Round Rock apologizes to all guests who are inconvenienced by this unforeseen incident, and the hotel is working to relocate all current guests, and those with existing reservations, to nearby hotels. We trust that our prompt and complete action to address this important concern will quickly remedy the situation and enable us to resume business as usual."

To learn more about Legionnaires' Disease, click here.

>>> Read the full story at KVUE

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