Hotel pools and hot tubs teeming with bacteria and parasites

  • 6 years ago
WASHINGTON — Hotels pools and hot tubs were linked to a third of all swimming-related disease outbreaks between 2000 to 2014, a new CDC report finds.

During that stretch, a total of 493 outbreaks linked to chlorinated or treated water were reported in 46 states and Puerto Rico, the report said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the results on Thursday in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

In total, the outbreaks led to at least 27,219 illnesses and eight deaths, according to the report.
Cryptosporidium (also known as Crypto), Pseudomonas, and Legionella were responsible for many of the outbreaks at swimming venues during that 15-year period.
Crypto is a parasite that can survive even in properly maintained pools. Pseudomonas and Legionella are bacteria that can survive disinfectants in slimy areas of hot tubs, pools and water parks.
The CDC report also outlined tips on how to protect from germs while at public swimming areas.