Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Legionella,Legionnaire's disease,Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on January 29, 2026
Harrah’s Laughlin, a bustling hotel resort center in the Colorado River Community of Laughlin, Nevada makes an appearance on the Make Food Safe Blog again.
In May 2025 we reported that at least three guests contracted deadly Legionella bacterial infections after staying at Harrah’s Laughlin that month. All three were hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease.
Reports of at least one case of Legionnaires’ disease indicates the problem has reoccurred. Multiple posts about Legionnaires’ disease have also hit local social media pages. Making it appear that there might be more people sick in this “travel-associated” Legionnaires’ disease cluster.
The Southern Nevada Health District is currently investigating a Legionnaires’ disease exposure event at Harrah’s Laughlin. At least one sick person reported staying in the North Tower of the hotel resort in the Fall of 2025.
Following this notification, Harrah’s Laughlin began testing and mitigation efforts. They notified specific guests and staff members who were in the areas of the hotel where they may have been exposed.
While a single case has been indicated, it seems likely that there may be others.
Legionnaires’ disease, while airborne, is not contagious. It is caused by inhaling microscopic bacteria (Legionella), often spread by man-made water systems. Unlike other respiratory infections, this illness does not move from guest to guest. It comes from the air thousands of people breathe in as they make their make their way through areas of the resort.
Unfortunately, for this reason, these infections are common in large hotel resort facilities that use cooling towers to manage their air conditioning needs. However, there are other common vehicles of Legionnaires’ disease.
Common sources of Legionella bacteria include:
If water is contaminated with Legionella bacteria, CPAP machines and water hoses may also spread the illness.
A January 26 post on the Facebook page, “Laughlin Buzz,” spurred conversations when a user said that their husband became ill after a New Year’s Eve stay at the hotel. The user posted a screenshot of the email she received from Harrah’s. Which included their recent notification and what they were currently doing.
“Dear Guest,
We were recently notified by the Southern Nevada Health District (“SNHD”) of an individual who had contracted Legionnaires’ disease and had stayed in the North tower at Harrah’s Laughlin in the Fall of 2025. In response to the notice, Harrah’s Laughlin took the hotel room the guest had stayed in off the market, and the Health District has been conducting an environmental investigation, including water sampling. Recent tests for all hotel towers, including the North tower, do not detect the Legionella bacteria. Harrah’s minimize the risk of Legionella in its hot water systems which meets or exceeds industry standards. We are confident in the integrity of our system and the safety protocols we rigorously follow.”
This spurred additional conversations on the post, with users chiming in with recent (and historical) experiences. Many users cited that this appears to be a recurring issue.
“Three times in three years,” was mentioned more than once.
Some people indicated respiratory illnesses (cold and flu symptoms) following their stay. These infections, with their own health concerns, can be serious as well. But how do you know if you have Legionnaires’ disease?
Legionnaires’ disease can be difficult to diagnose. On the surface, it presents like any normal pneumonia-like illness. Even on a chest x-ray there is no obvious distinction between Legionnaires’ disease and pneumonia.
Specialized laboratory tests are required for accurate diagnosis. Without which, treatment often responds more slowly, and complications (even death) are more likely to occur.
This can prove difficult if a sick individual contracts the disease while traveling. The potential exposure risk may not be immediately recognized as news often remains local. Unless a sick person receives, in this case, an email from the facility (and actually checked their email if it didn’t get directed to their SPAM folder), the connection may never occur.
Most people begin feeling sick between two and 14 days after exposure. However, it can take longer for symptoms to appear in some cases.
Not everyone who is exposed to Legionella bacteria will become sick. Most normally healthy individuals will not become infected. However, certain groups of people are at higher risk of infection if exposed.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 20 people exposed to Legionella bacteria will become sick. An unfortunate 1 in 10 will die.
If you have stayed at Harrah’s Laughlin recently, you should monitor yourself for symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease and seek medical attention right away if you become sick.
Symptoms to look out for include:
Other Symptoms may include:
As with most illnesses, those with a weakened immune system are at higher risk of becoming sick. As are current and even former smokers and those with chronic lung conditions. Conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or emphysema. Those over 50 years of age are also at greater risk of illness after exposure.
If you have become sick after working or visiting Harrah’s Laughlin, you may have questions. An experienced Legionnaires’ disease lawyer understands your situation and can assist you through the complicated legal process.
If you wish to pursue a legal claim for financial compensation to cover medical expenses, lost work, caring for a loved one, or other burdens associated with Legionnaires’ disease illness, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help. Call (833) 330-3663 or send us an email for a free, no-obligation consultation. A member of our compassionate team will go over the details of your case.
Call today to get the help and justice you deserve!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)