The Hindu 28.05.2013
Luxury hotel comes out clean, escapes penalty
A luxury hotel escaped penal action by Chennai
Corporation after King Institute of Preventive Medicine gave a clean
chit after testing samples taken from the establishment
Chennai
Corporation on May 8 collected swabs from the hotel after complaints by
a foreign national of having picked up an infection. The man had
contracted pneumonia after visiting Chennai. As public health
authorities had doubts regarding the sanitary condition in the hotel
where he had stayed, a team of officials raided the hotel. “The samples
were found to be negative for Legionella bacteria,” said a senior
official of the institute.
15 samples collected
“Investigation
was done for suspected Legionella disease by a team of health experts.
About 15 samples were collected in areas like kitchen tap, shower head,
air-conditioner, swimming pool and overhead tank,” the official said.
The
samples were tested according to Centre for Disease Control Guidelines
using appropriate specialised selective media (buffered charcoal yeast
egg extract medium with selective agents and antibiotics).
Such test results are usually ready in three weeks, the official added.
The
State government is likely to convey the results to the affected
person. Over nine star hotels in the luxury segment are located in
Chennai district.
A large number of hotels in the city are in the premium, mid-market and value segment.
“Periodic checks are done regularly in such areas,” said the official.
Had
the results proven the presence of a Legionella infection, public
health authorities would have imposed a fine of Rs.100 on the hotel
under the provisions of Section 101 of the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act.
The registration certificate of the lodging house at the luxury hotel
would also have been cancelled and a notice issued under section 279 of
Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act.
The Revenue
Department of Chennai Corporation in association with the Public Health
authorities would have also cancelled the trade licence of the
restaurant of the luxury hotel.
Samples taken from the establishment were tested after a foreigner complained of an infection.