Harrison Hot Springs Resort pools reopen after rash scare shutdown

UPDATE — March 7, 2019: Harrison Hot Springs reopened its mineral pools on Feb. 25, 2019. Fraser Health said water samples from each of the five pools tested negative for the bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa when tested by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. A statement said the cause of the rash remains unknown "but pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is the most serious concern, is ruled out." The investigation is ongoing.

EARLIER:

The Fraser Health authority has ordered the closure of the mineral pools at Harrison Hot Springs Resort after two reports of people getting a rash after using the pools.

According to Fraser Health spokesperson Dixon Tam, one case goes back to January, while the second happened this month.

"The complainants described a rash that would be consistent with symptoms related to pseudomonas aeruginosa, a multi-drug resistant bacteria," said Tam in an email.

HealthLink BC says pseudomonas aeruginosa is a type of germ that can cause minor infections commonly known as swimmer's ear and hot tub rash. The germs can lead to more serious infections including pneumonia in people with open wounds or who are weak or ill.

Tam said that in response to the complaints and follow-up inspection, the health authority closed the pools and sent water samples to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) for testing.

"Our environmental health officers' role is to ensure the public's safety and well-being," he said.

The resort is located at the southern end of Harrison Lake in B.C.'s Fraser Valley. The local tourism authority says the mineral water for the man-made pools is pumped from two nearby hot springs — the Potash, with a temperature of 40 C, and the Sulphur, with a temperature of 65 C.

First time closure

Eric Towne, sales and marketing manager at Harrison Hot Springs Resort, said it's the first time in the resort's 92-year history something like this has happened.

"We have some employees that have been here for over 40 years and can't remember the pools ever being closed," said Towne.

He said the pools are monitored every four hours and are tested five times per day.

Towne said the pools were closed as a precaution and he expects results from the CDC on Sunday or Monday.

"We are expecting a negative result," he said.

Compensation for guests

On its website, the resort posted a brief advisory for guests, saying all five mineral pools were closed by Fraser Health until Monday, Feb. 25.

"We apologize for the inconvenience," the advisory reads. "Guests staying in the resort during this time period will have complimentary use of the village public pool."

Towne said the resort provided a 50 per cent discount to guests who choose to stay over the weekend and waived the cancellation fees for those who want to cancel.

According the Fraser Health, the closure will continue "until we feel it's safe for the public to use the mineral pools."

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