Legionnaires Disease Confirmed at Ocean City Hotel

An Ocean City hotel is voluntarily closing for the season, a week earlier than planned, after three people who were guests developed legionellosis -- also know as Legionnaires disease about a week after staying there, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Maryland's health department says it has not confirmed that the guests acquired the illness at the Plim Plaza Hotel, which is located just off the Boardwalk in downtown Ocean City, and an investigation is ongoing.

The three people were hospitalized, but no one died.

The department says preliminary results from water samples suggest the presence of Legionella bacteria in hotel water, but final culture results are not expected until the end of next week at the earliest.

Legionellosis is a form of pneumonia caused by inhaling aerosolized water, or water mist, containing Legionella bacteria. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea or severe body aches.