Outbreak Investigation of Legionnaires in European Travelers, at Hotel, Talat Yai Subdistrict, Muang District, Phuket Province, 3-4 March 2025

Authors

  • Phakamat Tangkuha Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Region 11 Nakhon Si Thammarat, Department of Diseease Control
  • Praeploy Ruekmuang Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Region 11 Nakhon Si Thammarat, Department of Diseease Control
  • Siwimol Phoomniyom Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Region 11 Nakhon Si Thammarat, Department of Diseease Control
  • Nitisat Punpeng Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Region 11 Nakhon Si Thammarat, Department of Diseease Control
  • Kotchapan Sukra Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Region 11 Nakhon Si Thammarat, Department of Diseease Control
  • Rattanapron Panpeuch Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Region 11 Nakhon Si Thammarat, Department of Diseease Control

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/dcj.2026.45

Keywords:

Legionella spp., Legionnaires' disease, tourists, hotels, disease investigation, Phuket province

Abstract

On February 28, 2025, the Office of Disease Prevention and Control No. 11 (ODPC 11) investigated a Legionnaires' Disease outbreak involving three tourists linked to a Phuket hotel. The investigation, conducted on March 3-4, 2025, confirmed a high probability of hotel-acquired infection as symptoms aligned with the 2-14 days incubation period and laboratory tests found Legionella spp. in 22% of samples, including cooling towers and poolside showers. Key systemic failures included a 40% failure rate in residual chlorine levels due to sunlight-induced degradation at rooftop dosing points and hot water temperatures dropping to growth-favorable levels during peak usage. Consequently, the team recommended that the hotel improve chlorine shielding, stabilize water temperatures, utilize standardized measuring tools, and maintain rigorous maintenance logs to prevent future occurrences.

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References

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Published

2026-09-15

How to Cite

1.
Tangkuha P, Ruekmuang P, Phoomniyom S, Punpeng N, Sukra K, Panpeuch R. Outbreak Investigation of Legionnaires in European Travelers, at Hotel, Talat Yai Subdistrict, Muang District, Phuket Province, 3-4 March 2025. Dis Control J [internet]. 2026 Sep. 15 [cited 2026 Sep. 21];52(3):566-78. available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/DCJ/article/view/282968

Issue

Vol. 52 No. 3 (2026): July-September

Section

Outbreak Investigation

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