Pools closed at Palm Springs community after two infected with Legionnaires’ disease

The Center of Disease Control is closing down swimming pools at the Four Seasons, a 55 and older Palm Springs community after two people became infected with Legionnaires’ disease.

People 50 and older are at a higher risk of catching the disease, however, some residents are saying closing the pools during these triple-digit temperatures couldn’t have come at a worse time.

“‘It’s interesting timing and questionable about how much they needed to do it,” said Robyn Meltzer, a resident of the community

The CDC will be closing the pools down for at least the next ten days, according to people living in the area.

“We got an email saying they had to close down the pool due to some inspection issue and then we just got another email with more info about something about the Legionnaires’ disease,” said John Kady, another resident of the community.

Neighbors said the two people were infected back in January and reported using the pools during that time. A CDC representative said they were notified by public health Wednesday and closed the areas immediately out of an abundance of caution.

“If they had found something I would feel better about it, but it sounds like they are punishing the world for a small area,” Meltzer said.

Certified labs are expected to take samples of the water tomorrow morning and CDC staff will be on hand.

According to health experts, Legionnaires’ disease is a deadly bacterial lung infection and can be transmitted when people breathe droplets of bacteria-infected water.

Members of the community said while they wait for lab results to come in, management at the Four Seasons has coordinated accommodations for residents to use pool amenities at ‘Arrive,’ a hotel in Palm Springs. Others have swimming pools in their backyards.