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Final Tests Fail To Find Bacteria That Causes Legionnaires’ Disease At Hot Springs National Park

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Published Date

August 12, 2019

Preliminary test results that suggested a spa at Hot Springs National Park was infected with Legionella bacteria were wrong/NPS file

After warning the public that preliminary testing had detected Legionella bacteria at a commercial spa at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, the National Park Service now says final testing failed to detect the bacteria.

Preliminary test results from the Quapaw Baths and Spa suggested Legionella growth, resulting in a recommendation to close water services at the spa while the park and public health officials awaited confirmatory testing, the park staff said. With these finalized negative results, public health officials and the park have cleared the Quapaw to resume all services.

"Final test results of water samples from Quapaw Baths & Spa show zero presence of Legionella bacteria," the spa said after the final results came in. "Guests were never exposed to any kind of health risk and the prestigious baths and spa have now reopened. 

"Quapaw, which is committed to the highest standards for its guests, closed temporarily following the false alarm. During our decade in operation we have proactively undertaken thousands of tests, including daily examinations of our various pools and visitor areas, and never before encountered sanitation or health issues," the statement continued.

“We have always taken far-reaching steps to provide a relaxing and pristine environment for our guests and are pleased that this false and erroneous test reaffirms our perfect record on health and sanitation,” added Evan Nierman, a spokesman for Quapaw Baths & Spa.

Based on the preliminary results received earlier this month, the Quapaw immediately began remediation and disinfection efforts while waiting for finalized test results.  Throughout this process, the Quapaw Baths & Spa has fully cooperated with the National Park Service public health officials.

All laboratory testing was performed at a private lab, which is part of the CDC’s Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation Program.

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