A recent investigation by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified hot tubs on two major cruise ships as the source of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.
This severe respiratory infection affected numerous passengers who had used both public and private hot tubs during their voyage.
On one vessel, 63 per cent of the guests who contracted the disease had utilised the ship’s spa facilities, highlighting the potential health risks associated with these amenities.
The CDC’s investigation revealed that the hot tubs on these cruise ships were the epicentre of the outbreak.
The two cruise ships involved, though unnamed, were found to have inadequately maintained spa and hot tub facilities, which facilitated the spread of the Legionella bacteria.
The timing of the outbreak information does line up with reported cases of the disease onboard NCL’s Norwegian Prima and Celebrity Cruises’ ship Celebrity Ascent.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious infection that can lead to severe pneumonia-like symptoms. It spreads through inhalation of water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria, making hot tubs a prime environment for its proliferation.
To prevent such outbreaks, maintaining stringent hygiene and regular maintenance of hot tubs is crucial. The CDC recommends that cruise lines adhere to stricter cleaning protocols and conduct regular inspections to ensure water safety.
This means changing the weekly cleaning schedule to a continuous disinfectant dosing approach, with pH monitoring for private hot tubs onboard too.
Where continuous dosing isn’t possible, the CDC recommends shock-chlorinating each hot tub after guests use them.
Whether the cruise lines implement the recommendations or not is yet to be confirmed, though it’s anticipated they will make at least some changes considering the severity of this disease.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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