Health officials in Contra Costa County are investigating a potential link between two fatal cases of Legionnaire’s Disease and visits to Zen Day Spa in Richmond. Reports indicate that the two patients had visited the spa days before displaying symptoms of the illness.
Contra Costa Health (CCH) has collected water samples from the spa to be tested for the bacteria that cause Legionnaire’s Disease. They have also issued a warning to anyone who visited Zen Day Spa to be vigilant for symptoms of the disease and seek immediate medical care if they notice any.
Legionnaire’s Disease is a bacterial infection typically found in freshwater environments. However, the bacteria can also thrive in other moist areas such as showerheads or hot tubs, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease is contracted by inhaling contaminated water droplets in the air.
Symptoms of Legionnaire’s Disease include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, and headaches. Some people may also experience diarrhea, nausea, and confusion. Symptoms usually develop between two days and two weeks after exposure.
Certain individuals are more susceptible to Legionnaire’s Disease. These include people aged 50 and older, smokers (both current and former), individuals with chronic lung diseases, those with weakened immune systems, cancer patients, and people with underlying conditions such as diabetes, kidney failure, or liver failure.
CCH will provide more information about the situation during a press conference that will take place outside Zen Day Spa on San Pablo Avenue. The spa’s potential link to the disease underscores the critical importance of maintaining strict hygiene standards in wellness centers.