News Desk
Chiang Mai: European tourist catches Legionnaires’ Disease in hotel

A European tourist, his nationality has not been named, has succumbed to the Legionnaire bacteria in a Chiang Mai hotel. A public health official in the northern city admits that the tourist went down with Legionnaires’ Disease after staying in Chiang Mai. He says that foreigners tend not to have resistance to the legionella bacteria that causes the condition.
But added that Thais have a natural resistance to the bacteria (in researching the topic we couldn’t verify any evidence of the health official’s claims.).
Sanook is reporting that Dr Sumeth Onwandee, head of the Urban Institute for Disease Prevention in the northern Thai capital, said that the hotel’s hot water systems including a reservoir for hot water, taps and shower heads were checked. The hotel was not named.
The bacteria propagates in temperatures of 32 to 35 degrees.
Infected people can develop a ‘kind’ of pneumonia. There are thought to be about 8,000 to 18,000 cases in the US each year. The disease was first identified after the 1976 American Legion convention in a hotel in Philadelphia.
Many legionnaires and other people died prompting one of the biggest disease investigations in US history. There is no vaccine for the disease and prevention depends on good maintenance of water systems.
Dr Sumeth said that most Thais are immune though foreigners are more susceptible.
Sanook did not report on the condition of the tourist who contracted the disease.
SOURCE: Sanook
Get more from The Thaiger
Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.
Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.
Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.

-
Guides3 days ago
Monsoon season in Thailand explained
-
Bangkok2 days ago
Everything you need to know about the Bangkok Skytrain (BTS)
-
Best of7 hours ago
Beachfront restaurants in Phuket to dine with a view (2022)
-
Best of7 hours ago
Italian restaurants in Koh Samui for pasta, pizza, red sauce, and everything else
-
Thailand1 day ago
Thailand introduces fine for not wearing seat belt in the back seat
-
Thailand7 hours ago
UPDATE: Thailand introduces fine for not wearing seat belt in the back seat
-
Crime2 days ago
Police raid Chinese porn studio in Chon Buri, 4 arrested
-
Economy3 days ago
China-Taiwan-US spat threatens Thailand’s car industry