NHS Tayside cannot say when the Landmark Hotel in Dundee will be allowed to reopen its leisure club facilities following a confirmed case of Legionnaires’ diseases.
The hotel’s leisure club and spa have been off limits since March 17 after staff and guests reported feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms that sparked testing for legionella infection.
As of last night a total of 112 people who work in or have visited the Landmark are known to have had a flu-like illness with respiratory infection.
One person remains in Ninewells Hospital, the only confirmed case of Legionnaires’ disease in a person who visited the hotel’s leisure club. There are no further confirmed cases.
While Legionnaires’ disease is potentially fatal, pontiac fever is a milder illness caused by legionella bacteria. It causes a flu-like illness which lasts just a few days.
An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said last night it was “very likely” a number of the respiratory infections reported at Landmark could be caused by pontiac fever, but it would take some time to establish if that was the case.
“No one has yet been confirmed as having pontiac fever because it is difficult to diagnose and can require up to three separate blood tests over a period of several weeks,” she said.SamplesWhile samples have been taken from the spa and leisure facilities for testing, the spokeswoman confirmed the source of the infection has not been formally identified.
“NHS Tayside, Dundee City Council environmental health officers (EHO) and the Health and Safety Executive continue to work closely with the hotel to advise of all the appropriate steps which need to be taken at the leisure club,” she said.
A spokesperson for the hotel said, “The health and safety of staff and guests are our number one priority at all times and we have been working closely with the NHS since the investigation started to co-operate with the appropriate health and environmental tests.
“At this time our thoughts are very much with the individuals concerned. We are doing all that we can to resolve the situation and are continuing to work with the NHS and EHO to follow all appropriate directions. We encourage members of the public to follow guidelines issued from the NHS.
“We closed the leisure facilities at the onset of the situation on March 17 and these will remain closed until all necessary steps have been taken as directed by the NHS and EHO.
“Dr Christopher McGuigan, NHS Tayside Consultant in Public Health Medicine, is not recommending that people should stay away from the hotel as the focus of the investigation is on the leisure club.
“Outwith the leisure facilities closure, the hotel is open and in operation.”