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Disneyland shut down two water cooling towers after health officials discovered several cases of Legionnaire’s disease among people who visited the popular California theme park, authorities said.
“On Oct. 27, we learned from the Orange County Health Care Agency of increased Legionnaires’ disease cases in Anaheim. We conducted a review and learned that two cooling towers had elevated levels of Legionella bacteria,” Dr. Pamela Hymel, chief medical officer for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said in a statement Friday.
On November 3, Disney reported that routine testing had detected elevated levels of Legionella in two cooling towers a month earlier, and they were disinfected, according to the health agency.
Disney took the towers out of service again on Tuesday because the health agency required they remain down until test results verify they are free of Legionella contamination.
The county health agency alerted health care providers to keep an eye on anyone who visited Anaheim or Disneyland and contracted Legionnaires’ disease before November 7.
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by Legionella bacteria that grows in water, and it can spread when small droplets get into the air, according to the CDC. Outbreaks often happen in hot tubs, cooling towers and large air-conditioning systems that emit water vapor into the air.