"Am I therefore become your enemy,because I TELL YOU THE TRUTH...?"
(Galatians 4:16)

PESTILENCE WATCH:Hotel Closes Over Legionnaires' Disease

ORANGE COUNTY,Fla.-A hotel located in the tourist corridor of Orlando voluntarily closed its doors on Friday after two guests contracted Legionnaires' disease, a respiratory illness that can be fatal.Guests at the Quality Suites, located at 7400 Canada Ave. near International Drive in Orlando, have been relocated because of the incident, although Orange County Health Department spokesman Dane Weister said there are no further reported cases of the disease.The hotel may be closed for about two weeks.No information about the two guests, including names, ages and whether they are related, was released.The health department is conducting an investigation into numerous possible sources to determine the cause of exposure.Legionnaires' disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria that can be found naturally and anywhere in the environment. The bacteria grow best in warm water, like the kind found in hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems or parts of the air-conditioning systems of large buildings.Symptoms include headaches, loss of appetite, aches, pains, fever and coughing. The disease is treated with antibiotics. Symptoms can begin between two to 10 days after contracting the bacteria.Legionnaires' disease causes death in up to 5 to 30 percent of cases, health officials said.

As in the days of Noah....