Its the Renaissance.
Email attached.

Dear Hotel Guest



We are delighted you have chosen to stay with us and would like to wish you a warm welcome to the Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel.



As our highest priority is always the safety and well-being of our guests, we want to inform you of a remediation process currently underway at the hotel in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Health ("NJDOH") and the City of Elizabeth Department of Health and Human Services ("EDOH").



Recently, in cooperation with the NJDOH and the EDOH, the hotel collected and tested a variety of water samples from throughout the hotel's water systems. The testing revealed Legionella bacteria present in some of the water samples collected.



The hotel undertook these tests in response to reports of two guests that contracted disease, a serious type of pneumonia, after travel to the Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel during the past year. It is unknown whether the hotel is the source of bacteria that caused these people to become sick.



The hotel is working with the NJDOH and EDOH to chemically treat the water and swiftly implement a plan to permanently disinfect the hotel's water system to kill any remaining Legionella and prevent more from growing.



The risk of developing Legionnaires' disease from a building's water supply is low, especially for healthy people. However, your individual risk for Legionnaires’ disease may increase if you are 50 years or older (especially if you smoke), have chronic lung disease, have a weakened immune system, or take medications that weaken your immune system. If you have one of these health issues, take these extra steps during your stay as precautions:

• Do not take a shower, even a cool shower – since it could create water droplets in the air. Instead, take a bath, but fill the tub slowly. Try to minimize your time in the bathroom while the tub is filling.
• It is fine to brush your teeth, wash your hands or wash dishes, but fill the sink slowly to avoid splashing and producing water droplets in the air.
• It is fine to drink cold water from the tap but start with cold water when heating water for tea, coffee, or cooking. You cannot get Legionnaires’ disease by drinking water.
  • If you have swallowing difficulties (i.e., water often goes down the “wrong pipe”), consider using bottled drinking water for drinking.
• Never use tap water in any respiratory therapy equipment (e.g., CPAP, BiPAP) or humidifiers.

People can get Legionnaires’ disease by breathing in aerosolized water (small water droplets in the air) containing Legionella bacteria. Legionnaires’ disease cannot be spread from person-to-person.Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, and headaches. Symptoms occur within 14 days after being exposed to Legionella bacteria.



If you or any person who visited the hotel with you begins to develop symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease within 14 days (two weeks) after your stay at Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel, please seek medical attention right away. Bring this letter with you to show to the doctor. Legionnaires’ disease is treatable with an appropriate antibiotic.



Should you have questions at all, we welcome you to contact a hotel representative via email at[email protected] or via phone at 908-436-4615. If you have questions about this public health investigation, you may also wish to contact the City of Elizabeth Department of Health and Human Services directly, Monday through Friday 8:30am-4:30pm at 908-820-4124. Be sure to include your name and contact information. Additional information about Legionnaires’ disease can be found on the NJDOH’s website at:https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/index.html.



Thank you for your loyalty.

Sincerely,



Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel