The RIU Hotel in Ocho Rios. The chain also has resorts in Montego Bay and Negril.

A Legionnella outbreak can have a severe impact on our hotel industry, which forms a big part of our local tourist industry. Once a resort or a hotel is suspected of having a Legionella outbreak, the necessary detection and eradication processes would have to be implemented. Inclusive in these processes is a voluntary evacuation of certain blocks of the establishment with the suspected contaminated water distribution system or the entire premises if there is no clear separation of water distribution systems within blocks of the establishment.

There have been Legionella outbreaks in a number of countries worldwide. Cases of outbreaks that have been reported so far in 2006 are in Spain, France, Sweden, Australia, Guatemala and the United States of America. The closest reported case of a Legionella outbreak to the Caribbean was February this year at a resort located at Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.A. The outbreak was linked to infections which affected two of the resort's guests, including one who died. Even though it was not conclusive that the death was due to Legionnaire's disease, there was that possibility. Can you imagine the magnitude of effect that would have had on our industry if that resort was located in Jamaica? Even though an evacuation may be a temporary step in the process to detect and eradicate the bacteria, the outbreak would give the tourist establishment bad publicity, which can destroy the establishment's reputation and also the reputation of the tourist industry.

Are we aware of how to protect our tourist industry from a Legionnaire's disease outbreak? It is with great urgency that our hoteliers' associations educate themselves about this health issue and any other health issues which are not captured in The Public Health (Swimming Pools and Tourist Establishment) Act. Jamaica has a lot more to lose in tourism revenue by not being aware of these health issues, with the new United States of America legislation requiring its citizens visiting the CARICOM nations to be equipped with passports. If Jamaica is relying on tourism to maintain economic viability, we need to ensure that we are totally aware.

- D.C.