New spa village near Toronto temporarily closes its pools after staph detected
A new spa village near Toronto is temporarily closing its pools after a potential ‘health hazard’ was detected in a recent inspection.
On Thursday, the Thermëa Spa Village in Whitby, Ont. announced the closures after receiving notice from Durham Public Health that pseudomonas and staphylococcus bacteria, known as staph, were found in the saltwater pool called Källa.
The spa opened earlier this month, on Oct. 6, and it was notified about the bacteria just over a week later, on Oct. 14.
“We took immediate action, closing the pool and hiring a team of water experts to conduct a full investigation,” CEO and owner, Martin Paquette, said in a news release.
Following a thorough investigation, Paquette says the source of what caused the infection was a “malfunction of our UV lamps and bromine disinfectant.”
While the rest of the pools were considered safe, the spa made the choice to close them all so it could “effectively do a full audit of the installations.”
Staph is found on the skin and can range from minor skin infections to life-threatening illnesses if it gets into a person’s blood – it can even lead to sepsis or death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to Paquette, some guests have experienced some of its symptoms.
“We are devastated to hear that this has been your experience of our village,” Paquette said. “Please be assured that we took every step we could to ensure that the pool was fully inspected, approved and certified by public health authorities, and regularly tested and staffed by experts.”
The pools will stay closed until Paquette has “the absolute confidence that our water calibration systems work perfectly for the entire site.”
The spa’s thermal cycle therapy, saunas, rain showers, lounging areas and restaurants remain open.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Live updates: What star witness in Trump hush money case has said on the stand so far
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
Steve Buscemi punched in the face while walking in N.Y.C.
Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi has been treated for injuries after being punched in the face while walking in New York City.
'Be very, very careful': Wildfire conditions 'still extreme,' says Alberta fire chief
As wildfire conditions remain 'extreme' in northern Alberta, residents are being urged to be extra cautious and follow a fire ban.
Wildfire smoke drifts across Canada, over parts of U.S., prompting air quality advisories
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
Canucks' Zadorov fined $5,000 for post-game crosscheck on Oilers' McDavid
A Vancouver Canucks defenceman has been given the highest possible fine under the NHL's collective bargaining agreement after a scrum broke out at the end of Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers Sunday night.
COMING UP @ 3:30 P.M. City of Ottawa negligent in allowing Uber to operate outside of taxi bylaw, judge rules
An Ontario Superior Court judge has ruled that the City of Ottawa was negligent in its enforcement of the city's taxi bylaw when it allowed Uber to begin operating in 2014, harming the city's established taxi industry.
Jerry Seinfeld speech prompts pro-Palestinian demonstration at U.S. university graduation ceremony
A tiny contingent of Duke University graduates opposed pro-Israel comedian Jerry Seinfeld speaking at their commencement in North Carolina Sunday, with about 30 of the 7,000 students leaving their seats and chanting "free Palestine" amid a mix of boos and cheers.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.