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Lab testing finds Foothill Ranch spa was the source of Legionnaires' disease

Orange County Register - 6/13/2017

June 13--Lab testing has determined that the Foothill Ranch community spa was the source of Legionnaires' disease that hospitalized two adults.

The pool, wade pool and spa, at 27021 Burbank, were closed May 12. Testing by the Orange County Health Care Agency found that three samples from the spa tested positive for Legionella, which causes the severe type of pneumonia, said spokeswoman Jessica Good.

The warm water found in hot tubs can become contaminated if it is not sufficiently cleaned or disinfected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Legionnaires' disease is contracted after inhaling microscopic water droplets.

Good said the county will perform testing again this week. If results, which take about two weeks, come back negative, the facility can reopen.

Good said the management company has taken a number of sanitation steps for the spa, as recommended by the CDC. Those measures include: new filter material, cleaning of all surfaces, and replacement and super chlorination of the water.

Additionally, a UV/ozone device was added to the filtration system.

"These devices are similar to ones required on spray grounds (splash pads/water parks), and provide an added layer of safety not technically required for spas," Good said in an email.

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