Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Legionnaire's disease,Outbreaks & Recalls on July 7, 2025
An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at Harrah’s Laughlin Beach Resort and Casino has sickened at least three hotel guests with a serious lung infection.
Legionnaires’ disease.
The bacteria responsible for these ilife-threatening llnesses was found in water samples taken from the hospital by Southern Nevada Health District investigators.
What is Legionnaires’ disease? How do people get it? Should I be worried about Legionnaires’ disease if I recently stayed there?
Here’s what we know about the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak linked to Harrah’s Laughlin Beach Resort and Casino!
The Southern Nevada Health District recently announced that they are investigating three travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease linked to Harrah’s Laughlin Beach Resort and Casino.
This hotel resort and casino is located about an hour and a half from the bustling Las Vegas strip. Another area that has also experienced recent outbreaks of the waterborne respiratory illness.
All three guests with reported Legionnaires’ disease were hospitalized after staying at Harrah’s Laughlin in May. Two have since recovered from their illness.
As of the July 3, 2025 Southern Nevada Health District press release, on guest still remained hospitalized.
Following notification of these associated cases, the Health District initiated a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak investigation.
Legionnaires’ disease is a reportable illness. When patients test positive for the bacteria, they are asked where they have stayed or visited prior to becoming sick.
The Health District became involved when it became evident that all three Legionnaires’ disease patients stayed at the facility in Laughlin.
The Southern Nevada Health District performed environmental sampling at the facility.
Multiple samples tested positive for Legionella, the bacteria responsible for Legionnaires’ disease.
In response to these findings, Harrah’s Laughlin completed disinfection of their water systems.
According to the press release, the most recent samples were clean. While Legionella bacteria were not found in those samples, the facility will continue to follow up with additional testing “to help ensure the safety of its water systems.”
The facility is cooperating with the Health District’s investigation.
Legionnaires’ disease is the illness associated with Legionella bacterial infections.
These microscopic germs typically live in natural water environments like lakes, streams, and rivers. Infection in this environment is rare.
So, how do they make their way into a hotel?
Contaminated water.
A small amount of Legionella bacteria may be present in water entering the hotel or may contaminate roof cooling towers by way of neighboring facilities.
These bacteria become a huge problem when they find their way into human water systems where they can grow in number and create a protective biofilm in this man-made environment.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 20 people exposed to Legionella bacteria will become sick.
Legionnaires’ disease is not spread from one person to another. It is not contagious.
Instead, people become infected when they inhale aerosolized water droplets containing Legionella bacteria. Primarily from man-made water fixtures.
What exactly do we mean by “man-made water fixtures?”
Things like:
Water fixtures that mist or spray fine particles in the air.
It is on these aerosolized particles that Legionella bacteria go airborne and are breathed in by the unsuspecting victim.
Not everyone who is exposed, fortunately, gets sick. Those with certain risk factors are more likely to become sick if exposed and experience more serious illness if infected.
Anyone can become sick if exposed to Legionnaires’ disease, certain groups of people are more vulnerable to this respiratory illness.
While the infection can be treated with antibiotics, it is still a very serious illness. Most people infected with Legionella will require hospitalization to make a full recovery and 1 in 10 will die from the infection. If the infection takes place from a healthcare facility, the odds drop to 1 in 4.
Those at higher risk of Legionnaires’ disease include:
Legionnaires’ disease presents initially as flu-like or pneumonia-like illness. People often begin feeling symptoms somewhere between two and 14 days after exposure. However, it can take longer for symptoms to appear in some cases.
Symptoms to look out for include:
Other symptoms may include:
Legionnaires’ disease, despite its severe nature, often goes undiagnosed. This is because Legionnaires’ disease symptoms are very close to those of typical pneumonia. In fact, chest x-rays often cannot distinguish between pneumonia and Legionnaires’ disease.
Specialized laboratory tests are required for an accurate diagnosis.
If you have recently stayed at Harrah’s Laughlin Beach Resort and Casino and begin experiencing Legionnaires’ disease symptoms, seek medical attention right away.
According to the Health District, it is important to also notify your healthcare provider of your potential exposure. This may expedite appropriate treatment.
Whether you are currently sick or have recovered from your illness, The Southern Nevada Health District is asking for your help.
“Guests who stayed at Harrah’s Laughlin on or after May 1, 2025, and who developed or are experiencing symptoms with 14 days of their stay are urged to complete a confidential illness survey, at https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8370305/Harrah-s-Legionella-Investigation.”
If you have recently become sick with Legionnaires’ disease at Harrah’s Laughlin Beach Resort and Casino after your stay, you should get advice from an Experienced Legionnaires’ Disease Lawyer.
A Legionnaires’ disease lawyer can help you through the difficult process of getting medical bills paid. Gathering reports and evidence. Help you receive the appropriate care. And so much more!
If you wish to pursue a legal claim for financial compensation, 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 situation to determine if you have a legal case.
Call today to get the help and justice you deserve!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)