UVGI solutions for the Leisure Industry

roller-coasterThe leisure industry encompasses a huge field of occupations and businesses, from huge complexes, amusement parks and holiday camps, through to smaller hotels, theatres and restaurants, indeed almost anywhere where people gather to spend their leisure time.

Whether people gather in their tens, hundreds or thousands the risks of the transmission of illness and disease is equal.

The two main diseases associated with the leisure industry are Norovirus and Legionella, both of which create huge adverse publicity coverage and for some business might be critical enough to cause permanent closure.

Outbreaks of Norovirus infection have increased substantially in recent years. Most outbreaks occur in closed or semi-closed communities, especially in settings such as hotels, holiday and caravan camps, and coach parties. It is what many people still call 'Winter Vomiting Disease' although it can occur at any time of the year.

Norovirus is highly infectious. It has an incubation period of between 10 and 50 hours (usually 24 - 48 hours). Transmission is usually from person to person by the faecal/oral route, although it may also occur from aerosols or environmental contamination, especially following faecal accidents or projectile vomiting.

Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia which can affect anybody, but which principally affects those who are susceptible because of age, existing illnesses, smoking etc. In August 2002, seven members of the public died and 180 people suffered ill health as a result of an outbreak of Legionella at a council-owned arts and leisure facility in the town centre of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

The agent that causes Legionnaires' disease is a bacterium called Legionella pneumophilia. People catch Legionnaires' disease by inhaling small droplets of water suspended in the air, which contain the bacteria. Certain conditions increase the risk from Legionella:

  • a suitable temperature for growth, 20 to 45°C;
  • a source of nutrients for the organism, e.g. sludge, scale, rust, algae, and other organic matter; and
  • a way of creating and spreading breathable droplets

How we can help

A comprehensive range of solutions to reduce infection is available from IML: