Aria Casino Reports Incidents of Legionnaires' Disease

The Aria Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip – known for its poker room that has recently become the place to play for high stakes players – has been linked to Legionnaires’ disease, with higher-than-normal levels of the bacteria which causes the disease found there recently.

According to published reports, a handful of people who have stayed at the Aria in the last two years have come down with the disease, though there were no major outbreaks and no deaths as a result of the illnesses. According to Jennifer Sizemore of the Southern Nevada Health District, a total of six cases of the disease were reported since 2009.

Legionnaires’ disease earned it’s name from the first reported outbreak, which took place at an American Legion convention in 1976. The disease, caused by the Legionella bacteria, hospitalizes more than 8,000 people each year, and can cause a pneumonia that kills 5-30% of those who become ill. However, the disease is treatable with antibiotics.

It’s unclear what water system was contaminated, or how many guest rooms may have been affected by the bacteria. Guests who stayed at the Aria recently were notified about the potential for infection. After treatment, the water systems at the hotel no longer show any sign of the disease.

According to MGM Resorts International spokesman Gordon Absher, the Aria does not expect to lose any business because of the reports of Legionnaires’ disease.