Source: http://www.advisen.com, August 16, 2017
Posted on: http://www.advisen.com
A lawsuit has been filed against King Spa in Dallas by two people who say they contracted Legionnaires’ disease after visiting the 24-hour Korean spa.
Adam Flores, who visited the spa on Feb. 16, and Stacey DeLeon, who visited on March 28, both developed serious respiratory issues two to three days after their visits, according to the lawsuit.
Hyun Kim, a manager at King Spa located at 2154 Royal Lane, said she was not aware of the lawsuit and could not comment on it. But she did say that the spa uses a chlorine water system that is regularly inspected.
During their separate visits, Flores and DeLeon, who did not know one another, both used the spa’s showers, saunas, hot tubs and pools. The lawsuit alleges that Flores and DeLeon inhaled Legionella bacteria that was in the spa’s water system and disseminated via steam.
Their attorney could not be reached for comment.
Legionella bacteria grow in fresh water and can multiply and rapidly spread in man-made water systems, particularly in hot tubs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Legionnaires’ disease occurs when people breathe in droplets of contaminated water.
According to the CDC, one in every 10 people who contract the disease will die from complications. In 2015, about 6,000 people were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, which is treatable with antibiotics.
The disease was named after a 1976 outbreak at an American Legion convention at a Philadelphia hotel. Out of the 182 who contracted the disease, 29 died.
Three days after visiting the spa, Flores became lethargic, feverish, achy and started coughing, according to the suit. He was taken to Methodist Medical Center where he was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.
Two days after DeLeon went to the spa, she also developed a cough and became feverish and achy. After being released from her first hospitalization in April, she had to be taken to the Medical Center of McKinney emergency room due to the severity of her symptoms. She was later diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.
The lawsuit, which is seeking unspecified damages, alleges that the spa failed to inspect its water systems for Legionella bacteria and failed to warn customers of the presence of the bacteria.