OCEAN CITY, Md.- Worcester County health officials confirmed another round of Legionnaires' disease happened in June at the Golden Sands Condominiums. In a letter to guests, Golden Sands management said four people who stayed at the condos since last fall have been diagnosed with the disease.
Newly arriving guest, like Curtis Burns and his family said the news is concerning.
"That concerns me because my parents are up there in age and especially if the elderly are more susceptible to the disease that's a big concern," Burns said.
According to the Worcester County Health Department, the disease is spread through water containing legionella bacteria. Debra Stevens, director of community health, said the condo management must notify its guest about the risk of exposure.
Stevens said the requirement is being met through a memo given to guest upon their arrival at Golden Sands.
Vacationers from neighboring condos visiting the Tiki Bar at Golden Sands, like Aileen O'Rourke, said they wish they were notified also.
"We had a drink and went back to our hotel and actually the next day we went to the office to ask a question and the front desk manager said, 'Oh by the, way next door has Legionnaire's disease and you don't want to drink anything with ice cubes,' and I was like, great! I just had a drink yesterday," O'rourke said.
O'Rourke said she realizes the problem is at Golden Sands and not the resort she was staying at, but said she felt it would have been good practice to notify other guest at hotels about the neighboring issue when they checked-in.
The health department said it will monitor Golden Sands Condos until the Legionnaires' bacteria issues are resolved. According to the health department, the condo's management is cooperating with the health department requirements.
The facility has been required by the health department to contract a water management company for treatment and follow-up testing of the water at Golden sands. WBOC attempted to talk to management at Golden Sands about the disease issues, but were told they had no comment.
