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Have you stayed at South Point Hotel in Las Vegas and experienced pneumonia-like illness? You may have Legionnaires’ disease.
The Southern Nevada Health District is investigating a cluster of travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease spanning five months.
What has the Southern Nevada Health District uncovered? What is Legionnaires’ disease and where does it come from? How do you know if you have Legionnaires’ disease? What should you do if you expect you have it?
I’ve got the answers to these questions and more as we dive into the South Point Hotel Las Vegas Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.
After reports of two travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported from individuals who stayed at the South Point Hotel, the Southern Nevada Health District initiated an investigation.
One person stayed at the South Point Hotel in August 2024. The other stayed at the property in February 2025.
Fortunately, both individuals have recovered. However, due to the high rate of underdiagnosis often encountered with Legionnaires’ disease, there are likely countless other cases.
In response to the outbreak investigation, environmental water samples were obtained at the facility.
“Multiple water samples tested positive for Legionella,” the news release said. Legionella is the bacteria responsible for Legionnaires’ disease.
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by inhaling microscopic Legionella bacteria suspended in aerosolized water droplets. Essentially water mist. Inhaling this mist can move these waterborne bacteria into your lungs where they can cause infection.
While this bacterium is naturally occurring in freshwater environments (lakes, streams, etc.), they can also grow in human-made water systems.
Certain human-made water systems are better suited for growing and spreading harmful Legionella bacteria. But anything that generates a mist or spray can spread bacteria.
Common sources of Legionnaires’ disease include:
Not all air conditioning systems are vulnerable. For example, cars and most home air-conditioning systems are not a risk for Legionella growth. These types of systems do not use water to cool the air.
The most common sources of Legionnaires’ disease involve hot tubs and cooling towers.
Even more rare, but possible, is infection from drinking water contaminated with Legionella bacteria. It happens when contaminated water reaches someone’s lungs after swallowing. This happens when water “goes down the wrong hole” or in cases of near drowning.
The only way to know for sure if your illness is Legionnaires’ disease and not some other respiratory illness is a specialized laboratory test.
Legionnaires’ disease is an often-underdiagnosed illness. This is because symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are very similar to other types of pneumonia illnesses. In fact, Legionnaires’ disease is often indistinguishable from regular pneumonia, even on a chest x-ray.
Legionnaires’ disease generally produces respiratory and flu-like symptoms.
Common symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include:
These symptoms usually begin around 2 to 14 days after exposure. However, in some cases, illness may take longer to present.
Other symptoms may include diarrhea, nausea, and/or confusion.
Legionnaires’ disease symptoms are serious. Most Legionnaires’ disease cases require hospitalization. These illnesses can be fatal. 1 in 10 individuals with Legionnaires’ disease will die from complications of their illness. In a health care setting, this risk elevates to 1 in 4.
Legionnaires’ disease can be treated with normal pneumonia treatments. However, accurate diagnosis is key for faster recovery.
Specialized treatment protocols specifically for Legionella bacterial infections will aid in faster recovery and much better outcomes. The faster diagnosis is determined and treatment administered, the better your chances for full recovery.
Anyone who has stayed or visited South Point Hotel in Las Vegas is at risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease. However, there are some groups of people who are more likely to become sick if exposed, or experience more serious illness if they become sick.
Those at increased risk include:
In response to this South Point Hotel Legionnaires’ disease outbreak investigation, the hotel facility is conducting immediate water system remediation efforts. They are actively working to sanitize the water system and prevent additional Legionella bacterial exposure.
Additional follow-up testing is needed to ensure that the remediation activities were successful and to ensure the safety of the water systems.
According to the news release, “the facility is cooperating with the Health District’s investigation, and has initiated guest notifications regarding the potential exposure.”
Las Vegas hotels are not just a hot spot for entertainment. They also seem to be a hot spot for Legionnaires’ disease.
Why is that?
There are a lot of theories.
Legionnaires’ disease is most often associated with cooling towers and water features. Both of which are highly prominent in Las Vegas Hotels.
These vast structures use cooling towers to maintain air temperature, as simpler HVAC units are just not up to the task. Cooling towers, however, come with risk. Biofilm buildup and Legionella bacteria.
And fountains. These water fixtures are a huge part of many of these extravagant hotel lobbies. Photo spots and ambiance. All in one.
Some of the buildings in the city are new. Vast, beautiful, walls of glass! But many of the buildings have been around since the fifties and sixties. Some even built in the late fourties.
These aging buildings often have water systems that are more difficult to maintain and keep clean. A problem that can increase risk for bacterial growth. Namely Legionella bacterial growth.
The dry, dessert climate means that cooling systems are working overtime. All the time. These hotels know that comfortable guests are happy guests. So, there is generally no shortage of “conditioned air” within Las Vegas Hotels.
These cooling tower systems have structures on tops of buildings. Steam exhaust coming from towers on one building is easily pushed by the wind onto another Las Vegas Hotel building. This phenomenon is even easier in places like “the strip” where many hotels are lined up one after another in an entertainment and lodging mecca. Bacteria lurking in the exhaust can seed in the neighboring cooling tower systems if left vulnerable.
Regardless of the factors contributing to increased risk, preventative maintenance and regular testing is necessary to ensure guest and visitor safety.
If you have stayed at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas on or after April 16, 2025, and developed or are experiencing symptoms within 14 days of your stay, the Health District needs your help.
The department urges these people to complete a “confidential illness survey” to better understand the situation. https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8326801/South-Point-Legionella-Investigation
Those experiencing ongoing symptoms should seek medical attention and “alert their medical provider of the potential exposure.” Many people with Legionnaires’ disease do not recover from their illness. Specialized treatment is necessary for the best possible outcome.
Legionnaires’ disease is a preventable illness. Simple routine maintenance keeps these harmful germs from growing and infecting those entering the facility. Even more importantly. Maintenance required by health authorities.
Lapses in these safety protocols leave guests of South Point Hotel vulnerable to illness.
Medical bills, lost wages, and other burdens associated with Legionnaires’ disease add up. An experienced Legionnaires’ disease lawyer can help answer questions you may have about your situation and point you toward the resources you need. If you wish to make a legal claim, they can help you every step of the way.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has won millions of dollars in Legionnaire’s’ disease cases for families in situations just like yours.
If you or a family member has visited or stayed at South Point Hotel in Las Vegas and have been impacted by Legionnaires’ disease, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Legionnaires’ disease lawyer that can help.
Call (833) 330-3663 or send an email for a free, no-obligation consultation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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