In a tragic turn of events, a Massachusetts woman has lost her life to Legionnaires' disease just one week after her stay at the Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield, New Hampshire. The state health officials have launched an investigation into two cases of Legionnaires' disease, both linked to the resort.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced on Friday that they were looking into the Legionnaires' disease cases connected to the popular resort. One of the victims was a Massachusetts resident, identified as Barbara Kruschwitz, who sadly succumbed to the disease on October 10th. The second case involved a resident from Rhode Island.

According to Henry Kruschwitz, the husband of the deceased, Barbara had utilized the resort's pool and hot tub during their stay. The investigation conducted by the state epidemiologist, Dr. Benjamin Chan, revealed that the two affected individuals had stayed at different times, even in different months, and in different rooms. However, both victims were older adults and were hospitalized due to their infection, as is often the case with Legionnaires' disease.

Expressing his concern, Henry Kruschwitz stated that more preventative measures should have been taken after his wife's tragic passing. He deemed it "unacceptable" that a second person has fallen ill and insisted on preventing others from suffering the same fate.

Consequently, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services initiated an investigation into the Mountain View Grand Resort. As a precautionary measure, the resort has closed its hot tub. The investigators have yet to determine if the water system at the resort is the source of the two confirmed Legionnaires' cases.

Legionnaires' disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria, which can contaminate water systems. Health officials have warned that individuals can contract the disease by inhaling water droplets from showers, hot tubs, or faucets. Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease, which typically appear within two to fourteen days after exposure, include fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, headaches, and pneumonia.

Dr. Benjamin Chan emphasized that anyone who has stayed or is currently staying at the Mountain View Grand Resort and experiences symptoms within 14 days should immediately contact their healthcare provider to discuss their symptoms and the possibility of testing.

This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining clean and sanitized water systems to prevent the spread of Legionnaires' disease. Authorities continue to investigate the source of the outbreak, while urging individuals to be vigilant and seek medical attention if needed, particularly if they have recently stayed at the affected resort.