What is the Most Common Way of Contracting Legionnaires Disease?

Legionnaires disease is most commonly brought on by inhaling mists that come from a contaminated water source containing Legionella pneumophila bacteria. People may be exposed to these mists from whirlpool spas, showers, hotel pools, and air conditioning cooling towers, but it is not passed from person-to-person. However, the bacteria can colonize and grow anywhere under the appropriate conditions and where water is present, such as drinking fountains and ice dispensers. 

Where Is Legionnaires Disease Commonly Transmitted? 

Outbreaks of Legionnaires disease are often associated with larger facilities that have complex water systems. Those include: 

  • Hotels and resorts
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Hospitals
  • Cruise ships
  • Convention Centers

Over 20 percent of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks may be associated with recent travel. Symptoms appear two to 14 days after exposure, and include coughing, fever, and shortness of breath.

What are the Chances of Being Infected with Legionnaires Disease? 

It has been over forty years since the first outbreak, and Legionnaires disease continues to be a growing health concern. There are at least 20 outbreaks each year in the U.S., and nearly 10,000 people contracted the lung infection in 2018. However, this number may be inaccurate and is possibly much higher, as this illness is likely underdiagnosed. The people who are predominantly affected are individuals older than 50, smokers, and those with weakened immune systems. Infections can occur year-round, but they are most common in the fall and summer months. 

Who is Liable if You are Infected on Someone Else’s Property?  

Large building and facility owners, operators, and/or managers may be liable you are infected with Legionnaires disease on their property. Since they hold the responsibility of maintaining the water quality once it enters the building’s water system(s). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nine of every 10 outbreaks are caused by preventable problems that could have been solved with more effective water management. 

There are other parties that may also potentially be responsible. For example, if the water system is found to be faulty or defective, the designer, engineer, or manufacturer of the building’s water system may be liable for damages.  

What To Do if You Contract Legionnaires Disease

Being diagnosed with Legionnaires disease can be a confusing and frightening experience. Taking the following three steps right away can help protect your future and the health of others. 

  1. Contact the Local or State Department of Health. Timely reporting of an infectious disease, such as Legionnaires disease, can aid in preventing it from spreading. A directory of state health departments can be found here.
  2. Find and Test the Source. Finding the likely source and having it tested is vital to your potential claim. Most health departments will only investigate a reported exposure if two or more people have been infected. Legionella field test kits are available online, that don’t require a laboratory and provide results within 25 minutes.  
  3. Speak to a Legionnaires Disease Lawyer. Finally, get professional legal advice and an evaluation of your case by an experienced Legionnaires disease lawyer as soon as possible. If you wait too long, valuable evidence may be gone. Your attorney can then handle all of the legal details of your injury claim or lawsuit while you concentrate on recovering your health.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation 

If you or a loved one has contracted Legionnaires disease, reach out to The Lange Law Firm, PLLC to learn about your legal rights and options. We will help you secure the funds that you need to pay for your medical treatment and compensate you for other financial, physical and emotional harm you have suffered. Call (833) 330-3663 or use our contact form to schedule a free and confidential consultation today. 

The post What is the Most Common Way of Contracting Legionnaires Disease? appeared first on The Lange Law Firm.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What’s in Your Kitchen?  Whoopie Pies, Drinks, Raisins, and Chickpea Salad

What’s in Your Kitchen? MakeFoodSafe.com would like to help you keep your family safe from unsafe foods.  Each week we bring together a list of the current recalls.  Some recalls are issued due to undeclared allergens, which could cause serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if someone sensitive to the product consumes it.  Other recalls are issued due to contamination with harmful material or other health risk.  Check back often and evaluate your fridge, pantry, and shopping list to make sure you can identify which foods to avoid. Stewart’s Shops Corp Recalls Cranberry Apple Refresher Due to Undeclared Allergen Stewarts Shops Corp of Saratoga Springs, New York issued a recall on October 17, 2018 for their approximately 2,300 units of Cranberry Apple Refresher due to the undeclared allergen, milk.  Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk risk serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if the product is consumed. The recall was initiated...
Read more

Injury Data Reveals Infrastructure Need for E-Scooter Riders in NY

The uptick in electric scooter riding in New York City has come with a slew of complications, including a rising number of scooter-related injuries . New York City leaders and scooter company officials alike are weighing their options for creating a safer transit environment for these e-scooters. One recent report suggests that the most promising option is to create more third-lane, or bike lane, options for electric scooters. This report, compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), found that most people who are injured in scooter accidents were riding on a sidewalk at the time of their accident. Their research suggests that scooter riders often do not feel safe enough to share the road with cars, so they opt for using sidewalks when bike lanes are not available. While this may keep scooter riders safe from colliding with vehicles, it puts pedestrians who use sidewalks at a greater risk. The data show that three out of every five scooter riders who were injured s...
Read more

Food Safety Better at Fast Food or Full-Service Restaurants?

When you go out to eat, there is a level of trust you are putting in the hands of the people who are preparing your food.  There are regulations in place, health department inspections, and a cleanliness factor you expect of a food establishment.  But the bottom line is, a large number of foodborne illnesses occur as a result of eating at a fast food or full-service restaurant establishment.  According to the FDA Report on the Occurrence of Foodborne Illness Risk Factors in Fast Food and Full Service Restaurants, 2013-2014, prepared by the FDA National Retail Food Team, “Consumer demand for food away from home has led to increased spending in both fast food and full-service restaurants.”  According to the study, there are over one million restaurants employing more than 14 million food service workers. So, food safety as it related to fast food and food service is a thing. Food borne illness is serious.  According to the Center for Disease Control and Preventi...
Read more