The Guest House at Graceland Linked to Nine Confirmed Cases of Legionnaires’ Disease

Action News 5 Has just reported a 9^th confirmed case of Legionnaires’ Disease linked to the aquatic facilities of the Guest House at Graceland. The Shelby County Health Department confirmed an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in June, according to News Channel 3. At the time, there were only 3 confirmed cases. That number rose to 6 by July 12, and as of July 19, there are now 9 confirmed cases. The source of the exposure was the hotel’s pool area, which was shut down. The pool has been reopened, as no further contamination by the legionella bacteria has been found.

This is the third Legionnaires’ outbreak in Memphis in the last four years. In 2013, an outbreak occurred at a 24-Hour Fitness on Ridgeway Rd. In 2016, La Quinta Inn & Suites near the airport was shut down; eight people were confirmed as having contracted the bacterial infection, though officials looked into 42 individual cases. Firm partner R. Sadler Bailey, and associate Baker Yates, were involved in the 24-Hour Fitness case and represent four clients in the La Quinta Inn outbreak.

Why is Legionnaires’ disease so dangerous?

Legionnaires’ disease is easy to contract, though it is not spread from person to person. Rather, victims can either ingest or breathe in contaminated water or water vapor. The problem, of course, is that once the bacteria have made it into a water source, they are easily spread. This is why outbreaks of Legionnaires tend to involve multiple people, despite the illness being non-communicable. Symptoms can last up to two weeks.

Legionnaires’ often presents with symptoms similar to the flu – shortness of breath, coughing, fever, head and muscle aches – and people who have contracted the illness may not realize what they have. Antibiotics can cure the illness, but a delay in diagnosis will delay the treatment. If the infection goes untreated for too long, it can lead to kidney failure, respiratory failure or sepsis, a bloodstream infection. In the most tragic of circumstances, Legionnaires’ disease can lead to the death of the patient.

The very young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk of developing serious complications.

Were you at the Guest House at Graceland? You may have been exposed.

If you were at the Guest House at Graceland between May 15 and June 26, you should make an appointment with your doctor immediately, and ask him or her to test you for Legionnaires’ disease. If you have sustained injury or harm as a result, Bailey & Greer, PLLC can help. R. Sadler Bailey and Baker Yates have an in-depth knowledge of, and experience with, cases involving Legionnaires’ disease. To learn more, please call 901-680-9777 or complete a contact form. We have offices in Memphis and Jackson, and we serve clients throughout Western Tennessee.