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http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090 ... 00339/1138

Hotel tests for deadly bacteria
Robert Ditcham

Last Updated: February 01. 2009 1:49AM UAE / January 31. 2009 9:49PM GMT

A five-star hotel in Dubai is investigating a possible outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease after the death of a recent guest, the BBC cricket commentator and statistician Bill Frindall.

Frindall, who was 69, died on Friday after falling ill with the infectious disease after a cricket tour of the UAE a fortnight ago. Two other guests of the hotel also fell ill. Their condition was unknown.

It is not known where Frindall contracted the disease. The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, where he was staying, is investigating.

The hotel’s parent company, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, said in a written statement that three guests were “reportedly diagnosed with clinical cases of Legionnaires’ disease”. The hotel said it was conducting a “thorough investigation” with Dubai Municipality, Dubai health authorities and independent assessors, including leading experts from Europe and the US, to establish whether the disease was present in the hotel.

In a statement issued yesterday evening, the company said: “All testing to date has established that the hotel satisfies all requirements regarding the health, safety and welfare of hotel guests and associates. Potential sources have been analysed by an independent accredited laboratory and to date, unequivocally no evidence of legionella has been found at the hotel. In addition, no issues have been noted during systematic and regular audits conducted at the hotel.

“The safety of our guests and associates is always of paramount priority, and although recent monitoring and testing has not revealed the presence of legionella at the property, hotel management has begun contacting guests and associates to advise them of the situation.”

Legionnaires’ disease, a type of pneumonia, is caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella. The bacteria was named after there was an outbreak among people who attended a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion in 1976.

Each year, 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalised with Legionnaires’ disease in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, many infections are not diagnosed or reported.

Signs of the disease can include a high fever, chills, and cough. Some people may also suffer from muscle aches and headaches. Chest X-rays are needed to find the pneumonia caused by the bacteria; blood or urine tests are also required to find evidence of it in the body. Symptoms usually begin two to 14 days after exposure to the bacteria.