Two hundred residents at Genesis St. Joseph assisted living facility in Trumbull, CT, were evacuated overnight after state health officials raised concerns about water test results. It was raining when the evacuation began at 11 p.m. on March 5 and continued through the early morning hours of Thursday, March 6. Police, firefighters, emergency responders in ambulances, and wheelchair livery services from throughout the state helped to move the residents from the facility, located at 6448 Main Street, to 23 different skilled nursing facilities.
Several families told News12 that the water tests were positive for Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease. Genesis St. Joseph’s would not provide specifics to the station, instead saying the evacuation was prompted by its “ongoing inability to manage its water system.”
Do You Need a Legionnaires’ Disease Lawyer?
Legionnaires’ Disease
People get Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia, when they inhale water vapor contaminated with Legionella. It is not contagious.
Although Legionella bacteria are found in nature, they grow best in the warm water of manmade structures such as commercial plumbing systems, fountains, and hot tubs. Outbreaks are frequently linked to hospitals and long-term care facilities, but an emergency overnight evacuation is highly unusual.
Some people are at elevated risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease, including:
- Current and former smokers
- People over 50
- People with weakened immune systems
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease usually develop within 14 days of exposure. They include:
- Headache
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle aches
Most people who get Legionnaires’ disease require hospitalization, and about 10 percent of cases are fatal. For healthcare-associated cases, the fatality rate is 25 percent.
Timeline of Events
At some point before Wednesday, a problem with the water at Genesis St. Joseph’s prompted management to “shut off water for showers and things like that,” P.J. Meade, the father of a resident, told News12. When he asked why, Meade said he was told that there had been a positive test for Legionella. Other families told the station they had heard the same.
Turning off water to showers and faucets is a common precaution when a water test is positive for Legionella because it limits exposure to aerosolized water.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health arrived at Genesis St. Joseph’s on Wednesday, March 5, to investigate a water issue, according to information the City of Trumbull has been posting on its website. Teresian Towers and Carmel Ridge, the independent senior living communities that are part of the Genesis St. Joseph campus, were not included in the investigation.
By 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, all of the residents had been relocated. At this time, there is no estimate on when or if the residents can return to Genesis St. Joseph’s.
Experienced Legionnaires’ Disease Legal Team
If your loved one contracted Legionnaires’ disease at Genesis St. Joseph, our Legionnaires’ lawyers can help. To request a free consultation with our experienced Legionnaires’ Team, call us at 1-888-377-8900, text us at 612-261-0856, or use the form below.