Disneyland has shut down two cooling towers after nine people contracted Legionnaires’ disease at the theme park.
A total of a dozen cases of the bacterial lung infection were discovered in Anaheim, California about three weeks ago, the Orange County Health Care Agency announced Friday.
One of the three cases not linked to Disneyland was fatal, the agency said.
The patients, ranging in age from 52 to 94, lived or had spent time in Anaheim, and nine had visited Disneyland in September.
Disneyland has shut down two cooling towers after nine people contracted Legionnaires’ disease at the theme park (file photo)
There haven’t been any new cases linked to Anaheim since September, the agency said.
‘There is no known ongoing risk associated with this outbreak,’ the agency said.
The chief medical officer for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Pamela Hymel, said in a written statement that after learning of the Legionnaires cases, park officials ordered the cooling towers treated with chemicals to destroy the bacteria and shut them down.
Cooling towers provide cold water for various uses at Disneyland and give off a vapor or mist that could have carried the Legionnella bacteria. The towers are not in public areas.
Legionnaires’ disease can be spread through inhaling droplets from contaminated water sources.
While many people have no symptoms, it can cause serious pneumonia and prove dangerous to those with lung or immune system problems.
The disease can be treated with antibiotics.
Disneyland was informed of the Anaheim cases on October 27 and after testing found that two cooling towers had elevated levels of Legionella bacteria.
The towers were taken out of service November 1, disinfected, went back in operation on November 5 but were shut down again Tuesday and will remain offline until tests confirm they are free from contamination, according to the park and the county health agency.
Orange County has had more than 55 reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease this year and the number of cases has increased in recent years both in the county and nationally, according to the health care agency.