CDC Warns of Legionnaires' Disease Risk from Cruise Ship Hot Tubs

Private hot tubs on cruise ships have been identified as the source of recent Legionnaires' disease outbreaks, prompting calls for stricter maintenance protocols.

The CDC linked 12 cases of Legionnaires' disease to private hot tubs on two cruise ships between November 2022 and July 2024.
Private balcony hot tubs, which are not subject to the same stringent cleaning as public ones, were found to harbor Legionella bacteria.
Outbreaks resulted in 10 hospitalizations, highlighting the severe health risks posed by inadequately maintained hot tubs.
CDC recommends cruise lines adapt public hot tub maintenance standards for private tubs to prevent future outbreaks.
Both affected cruise ships have since implemented stricter cleaning protocols, including draining tubs between uses and removing heating elements.