Deadly Legionnaire's Disease Found at HK Government Headquarters
Colonies of legionella in a lab dish. Reuters.

A Las Vegas luxury resort and casino has been associated with six cases of the rare Legionnaires' disease, health officials informed on Friday.

Nevada health authorities are investigating a probable case of Legionnaires' outbreak in the 4000-room Aria Resorts and Casino and hotel guests have been informed about the situation.

Caused by gram-negative Legionella bacteria, the disease acquired its name in July 1976 when an outbreak of pneumonia occurred among people attending a convention of the American Legion at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia.

Legionella is a bacterium that lives in water and loves warm, wet environments. Unfortunately, people also like warm, wet environments, like hot tubs, ABC News quoted Dr. Mary Nettleman, professor and head of the department of medicine at Michigan State University stating.

Usual symptoms of the disease include high fever, headaches, muscle soreness, chills and cough. Although the disease can be treated using antibiotics, severe untreated cases can be fatal.

The luxe resort has previously been linked with the disease in 2009 but tests conducted in the hotel that time showed no detectable levels.

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