WASHINGTON – Two people have contracted Legionnaires’ disease while vacationing in Ocean City, Md., authorities say.
Both vacationers stayed at the Sea Watch condominiums, where Worcester County health officials confirm the bacteria Legionella has contaminated the water supply.
One of the affected individuals stayed at the 115th Street complex last fall. The other was there in the spring, officials say.
The Sea Watch remains open, condo owners have been notified and management says it is taking steps to fix the situation.
Last fall, there were six confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ in Ocean City – one fatal – at the Plim Plaza Hotel.
Each year, between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with the infection in the U.S. The disease is not contagious person-to-person, but is contracted when Legionella-contaminated mist or vapor is inhaled.
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of lung infection similar to pneumonia, with symptoms including high fever, chills and a cough, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
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