2 Clark County pools closed after staph bacteria detected
Two Clark County indoor pools are closed, and two others are undergoing testing, after staph bacteria was detected, according to a county government spokeswoman.
The Desert Breeze Aquatic Facility, 8275 Spring Mountain Road, near Cimarron Road, and the West Flamingo Senior Center, 6255 W. Flamingo Road, near Jones Boulevard, have closed their indoor pools, Clark County spokeswoman Stacey Welling said.
The Aquatic Facility’s pool closed April 27 after the county received complaints of skin irritation from a few employees, Welling said. Pool chemical levels were deemed “comfortable,” so additional samples were sent out.
At least one sample identified tested positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis, Welling said.
The pool was closed immediately, and the Southern Nevada Health District was notified.
The pool’s water, filtration and circulation systems and all pool surfaces, locker rooms, showers, bathrooms and benches went through intense and thorough disinfection referred to as super-chlorination, according to a letter from the Parks and Recreation Department. The pool was tested again on April 30, and samples still tested positive for the bacteria.
The county initiated a hyper-chlorination process to disinfect the pool on May 1, and pool water samples later came back with a presence of Staphylococcus aureus, the letter said.
The pool will continue to go through rigorous disinfection procedures and will remain closed until there are acceptable levels of bacteria within water testing samples, according to the letter.
It is unknown what caused the bacteria presence.
The West Flamingo Pool closed Thursday after the Health District received a complaint of skin irritation and the county found signs of bacteria growth in water samples, Welling said.
The county decided to test two of the remaining indoor pools at the Hollywood Aquatic Center at 1550 S. Hollywood Boulevard, near Charleston Boulevard, and Cora Coleman Senior Center at 2100 Bonnie Lane, near East Lake Mead Boulevard.
Welling said the pools have followed regular procedures and mandated public health protocols but have been advised to look to the standards of the World Health Organization.
Anyone with skin irritations should take precautions to treat it and follow up with a health professional for assistance.
It is the first time the county has dealt with this issue, Welling said.
Anyone who has purchased an annual pass for the indoor pools will be credited while the pools are out of commission, she said.
Contact reporter Cassandra Taloma at ctaloma@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @CassandraTaloma
