Residents of Co-op City in New York were not told of 2 residents who were diagnosed with Legionnaire’s disease over a 2-year period. The North Bronx complex has 15,000 units.
Legionnaires’ disease is a deadly form of pneumonia caused by breathing in water mist carrying Legionella bacteria. The water mist can be from a faucet, shower head, pool, spa or fountain, and it only takes a few cells of the bacteria to cause illness. This is because, once breathed into the lungs, the bacteria can colonize (multiply) at an astounding rate, causing an infection called legionellosis.
Building owners and companies hired to prevent Legionella contamination of water systems can be sued for Legionella pneumonia if there is evidence that the water system was contaminated with the bacteria. In cases were there is an outbreak of illnesses, a state or local health department will do tests on the building’s water to determine whether the bacteria is present.
According to the operator of Co-op City, RiverBay, the Department of Health gave the Co-op a clean bill of health in December. The company claims there was no evidence of that the 2 residents contracted the illness in the Co-op building.
“We investigated their water system an found no evidence of a problem with their water supply, and no evidence that the water at Co-op City made anyone sick,” said a Health Department spokesperson.
Even given this statement from the Health Department, residents who contract Legionnaires’ disease should contact a lawyer and discuss the possibility of an independent investigation of the illness. You can click here to contact our lawyers for a free consultation.