Fosyth County health officials have confirmed 4 cases of Legionnaires’ Disease linked to Oak Forest Health and Rehabilitation, 5680 Windy Hill Dr, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The facility provides rehabilitation and long-term care. All of the people sickened in this outbreak live at the facility.
- “Legionnaires’ Disease is contracted by breathing in water mist or vapor containing Legionella bacteria,” said Fred Pritzker, an attorney who represents Legionnaires’ Disease victims nationwide in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against building owners. “These bacteria survive and multiply in building water systems if they are not cleaned and sanitized as required by law and appropriate safety standards.”
Health officials have taken samples of water from various locations at Oak Forest Health to test for the presence of Legionella, but these tests are not finished.
When Legionella bacteria colonize in the lungs, they cause a severe form of pneumonia (lung infection) that is often fatal. This Legionella pneumonia is called Legionnaires’ Disease. To date, there are no fatalities in this outbreak, but one of the people sickened is still hospitalized.
The Forsyth County Department of Public Health is working with the North Carolina Division of Public Health and Oak Forest Health and Rehabilitation to implement internal control measures to protect residents, visitors and staff at the facility. These measures include the following:
- The suspension of new admissions;
- Visitor restrictions;
- The use of bottled water for drinking, mouth rinsing, brushing teeth, and shaving; and
- Water superheating by turning hot water tank and boilers to 160 degreen Farenheit for three hours then purging the water lines for at least five minutes.
Get Your Free Consultation
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman are our lead lawyers for these cases. They represent clients throughout the U.S. in lawsuits against nursing homes, hospitals, schools, hotels and others. They have significant experience in this area and are familiar with the scientific evidence needed to win these cases. They have won millions for their clients, including a recent $3,000,000.00 settlement for a family whose loved one did not survive. You can call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) to contact us and get your free consultation.