A final report from state health officials concludes that an outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in Hampton sickened up to 49 people last year, and was linked to two deaths.
State epidemiologists traced the outbreak to a hot tub at The Sands Hotel in Hampton. After the hot tub was ordered closed in late August, there were no new additional cases reported.
According to the report, “the inadequate maintenance of The Sands Resort hot tub as well as other conditions within the facility, such as low hot water temperatures, may have favored the growth of Legionella bacteria.”
The 103-page analysis says patients between the ages of 3 and 88 contracted the bacteria, which produces flu-like symptoms. There were 34 confirmed infections, along with 14 probable cases, and other 15 suspected cases.
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Legionnaires' Disease is usually spread through inhaling aerosolized droplets of water containing the bacteria.
The Hampton outbreak was the first reported cluster of the disease in the last 15 years in the state. Approximately 30-35 cases of Legionnaires' are reported in New Hampshire each year.
