Hong Kong health chief defends response to legionnaires’ cases linked to five-star Macau hotel
The men contracted the disease after spending time at the five-star Parisian
Hong Kong’s health minister denied there had been a delay in a health investigation after three people who caught legionnaires’ disease were found to have visited the same five-star hotel in Macau.
The men, aged 84, 66 and 70, went down with the disease between January 9 and April 10. Two had stayed overnight at the Parisian Macau, which opened in September, while the other had paid a visit.
Asked at a media briefing if there was a problem with the reporting mechanism between the two sides, Dr Ko Wing-man said the Department of Health had to go through “certain procedures” to trace the source of the infections and would remain in close contact with its counterparts in the neighbouring city to get to the bottom of the matter.
In a press release just before midnight on Saturday, Macau’s health bureau confirmed it had ordered the Parisian to turn off its water fountain, while the jacuzzi, pool and water systems had been cleaned and disinfected.
Owned by the Sands group and nearly four years in the making, the US$2.7 billion Parisian Macau was the latest gaming resort on the Cotai Strip, offering 3,000 rooms and featuring a half-sized Eiffel Tower out front.
“Since [Friday] evening, we have begun investigations on the maintenance of the [facilities] and collected water samples for testing. We expect results to be ready in 10 days,” the statement read.