A Billings hotel is actively working with the city-county health department to remediate a Legionella outbreak, RiverStone Health reported on Tuesday evening. 

The announcement followed a Billings Gazette article published online Tuesday afternoon that recounted a Board of Health meeting from last Thursday where the city-county health officer described an unsuccessful attempt by the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel to remove the bacteria. 

RiverStone did not respond to a Gazette inquiry sent late Monday afternoon for the initial article. Efforts to get answers to questions through a Wyndham media line and through a call to the local hotel's front desk were also unsuccessful. 

Since that meeting last week, RiverStone CEO Jon Forte told the Gazette that the hotel is complying with all necessary steps to address the outbreak, including the recommended treatment of hyperchlorination. Water remediation can be repetitive and may have to be repeated to fully eliminate the outbreak, RiverStone noted to the Gazette.

Additionally, Forte provided this statement from the owner of the Howard Johnson:

“We have done everything in our power to resolve this issue," owner Nasima Khan stated. "I have not taken a single day off and have worked tirelessly to demonstrate to RiverStone Health, our guests and our community that we are fully committed to following every requirement and recommendation. Before the remediation company could begin the hyperchlorination process, the treatment plan and chemicals had to be reviewed and approved by RiverStone Health and, as I understand it, by the state of Montana as well. Every step has been completed under their guidance. Today, I am happy to share that we have successfully completed the second round of hyperchlorination, exactly as instructed by RiverStone Health.”

Khan said the hotel had removed every shower head and every sink faucet throughout the building, thoroughly flushed and treated the entire water system and temporarily relocated guests to sister hotels at no cost. The owner also expressed appreciation for the support and understanding of the hotel’s guests as the Howard Johnson is being cleaned.

“Our commitment has always been, and will continue to be, the safety of our guests, our employees, and our community,” Khan stated.