Arizona couple fell sick after stay at Aria - Legionella

Dois jovens ficam doentes após estarem no Hotel Aria em Las Vegas.

By Paul Harasim
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Posted: Jul. 24, 2011 | 1:59 a.m.

A doctor said two Arizona college students appeared to have caught Pontiac fever after the couple stayed at Aria just after the period when patrons were warned they may have been exposed to the bacterium that causes the fever and its more serious cousin, Legionnaires' disease.
Pontiac fever is caused by the same type of Legionella bacteria as Legionnaires' disease. The symptoms of Pontiac fever usually last two to five days and include fever, headaches and muscle aches; however, there is no pneumonia as there is with Legionnaires' disease. Symptoms go away on their own without treatment and without causing further problems. The fever and Legionnaires' disease may also be called "Legionellosis"
"If we were older and not in good health, I hate to think what could have happened," Dougherty said. "There should probably be thousands more people getting notification letters warning them to see doctors if they get certain symptoms."
On July 14, Southern Nevada Health District officials said former Aria guests who stayed at the hotel from June 21 to July 4 could have been exposed to the sometimes fatal Legionnaires' bacteria which has infected six former hotel guests. Though the Aria cases stretch back almost to the Dec. 16, 2009, grand opening of the 4,000-room hotel, officials said they only needed to notify guests who stayed during the two-week period.