T

he Bali Health agency has confirmed that legionnaire laboratory tests from 15 places on the island were proven negative, an official said.

Nyoman Sutedja, head of the agency, said that the samples were taken from swimming pools, bathrooms, dining rooms, kitchens and other facilities from the affected hotels and were comprehensively checked at a laboratory in Yogyakarta.

Previously, around 14 foreign tourists were affected by Legionnaire diseases while they were holidaying in Bali.

“I have delivered the laboratory test to associations of hotels, restaurants, villas and the tourism agency,” explained Sutedja.

However, he had not sent the laboratory report to Australia and other countries. The 14 affected tourists reportedly were from Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands and France. “We will soon send the result if there are special inquiries from these countries,” he added.

Despite this favorable result, Sutedja warned the local tourist industry to remain on high alert. “There are still possibilities that the legionella bacteria will grow anywhere in the world including in Bali,” he said.

Excessive use of unprocessed ground water sources, unhygienic sanitary equipment, kitchen utensils, and air-conditioners are contributed to the breeding of the bacteria.

Currently, Bali does not yet possess a laboratory facility that can carry out tests on legionella bacteria. Clinical and laboratory examinations on e-coli, legionella and salmonella bacteria must be conducted by tourist-related industries every six months.

Perry Markus, secretary of Bali Hotels and Restaurants Association, explained that continuing tests and maintenance of all facilities are strictly required to ensure any visitor’s health safety.

Djinaldi Gosana, chairman of the Bali Hotel Association (BHA), said that hotels must have certificates of free-salmonella, free-e-coli and free-legionella bacteria from related health agencies.

“Australia has named the hotel where its citizen allegedly was infected by legionella bacteria while they were in Bali,” said Gosana.

The hotel is a member of the BHA, Gosana said. “We have obligations to support our members and to clarify the situation with the Australian authority,” added Gosana.