Often times some of the most frequent travelers take the clean water of their destinations for granted. However, many destinations around the world don’t have the luxury of clean, uncontaminated water. Even some of the most prestigious hotels in ideal settings can lead to guests’ exposure to bacteria or parasites responsible for serious illnesses. All of the best leisure activities could lead to exposure if not careful. Dips in the hotel pools, a sweat session in the sauna and even a shower in your hotel room after a long day could lead to water contaminant exposure.
Of the most common diseases that travelers have reported as a result of the water in their hotel stays are Legionnaires’ Disease and Cryptosporidiosis.
Starting with Legionnaires’ Disease, the origin story is quite interesting. The namesake comes from the first major breakout of the Legionella bacteria at an American Legion convention hosted in the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. This convention was home to nearly 2,000 American Legion members. Of these guests, 182 became infected as a result of poorly maintained air conditioning systems in the hotel. These systems were later discovered to be a breeding ground for the bacteria, which would later go on to be transmitted throughout the air in the hotel, leading to all of the infected. Of the 182, 29 would go on to lose their lives. This spurred some of the most significant changes to regulations centered around hotel air conditioning systems in the nation. While most hotels continue to adhere to these regulations, frequent travelers should always remain cautious while traveling throughout the world. Depending on these hotels to ensure the safety of their guests is usually a safe bet, but if you feel unsafe in any hotel environment, it’s best to evacuate immediately.
While Legionnaires’ is certainly the more known of the two, Cryptosporidiosis isn’t anything to scoff at. While Legionella has been known to find respite in air conditioning systems, Crypto is a parasite that’s comfortable in any recreational water supply. In hotels, water is often shared by guests through the form of pools, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms and the like. This parasite can exist in any of these locations, and those infected will suffer from severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. While it can be difficult to avoid some of these recreational water sources, if you have any inclination that the water has been contaminated, it is best to alert hotel staff and avoid the water at all costs.
Frequent traveling can lead to increased chance of exposure to even more dangerous microscopic contaminants than those detailed in this post. Which is why it’s so important for travelers to stay up to date regarding any local water conditions prior to their travels. For those travelers worried about the water they have come into contact with, always be sure to seek medical attention when necessary. In addition to this, when possible avoid drinking any water you believe has been contaminated. Bottled water in these areas should always be the prioritized choice. For additional information regarding the dangers you may face as a result of hotel water throughout your travels, be sure to review the infographic accompanying this post.
AUTHOR BIO: Chris Ebener is a mechanical engineer for LiquiTech, with a proven track record of diagnosing and remediating public water system issues of various sizes and complexity. Ebener is an expert on the biochemical makeup of facility water systems, system architecture and various methodologies of public drinking water treatment.