Source of Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Discovered

The source of the largest outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in Georgia’s history, which has shut down a local hotel since last month, has been discovered. 

More than 60 probable cases of the disease have been linked to the Sheraton Atlanta, including one fatal case. Georgia Department of Public Health officials have traced the source of the bacteria to the hotel’s cooling tower. Additional Legionella bacteria were found in a decorative fountain in the hotel’s atrium.

The hotel’s maintenance staff performed an immediate remediation on its entire water distribution system. Following a successful inspection by health officials, the hotel reopened for business late last week, CNN reports.