One person is dead and two are hospitalized in a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Nassau County, NY that has sickened at least 10 people, according to the Nassau County Department of Health. All of the illnesses have been reported this month.
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Contact a Legionnaires’ Disease Lawyer
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia that develops when people inhale water vapor contaminated with Legionella bacteria. It is not spread through person-to-person contact.
Symptoms of this often fatal form of pneumonia include shortness of breath, cough, headache, fever, and muscle aches. Most Legionnaires’ disease patients require hospitalization, about 10 percent of cases are fatal. People at elevated risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease include seniors, people with pre-existing conditions, and people with compromised immune systems.
Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks are often linked to hot tubs, fountains, cooling towers, and the air conditioning or the plumbing systems of large buildings. That’s because even though Legionella bacteria are found in nature they grow best in the warm stagnant water of man-made structures. Commercial buildings are supposed to have water management plans in place to test and control for Legionella.
The Nassau County Legionnaires’ outbreak includes patients who range in age from 35 to 96 years old all of whom were hospitalized. Seven have been discharged, two are still receiving treatment in the hospital.
This outbreak includes an area with a one-mile radius-square of Wantagh Avenue and Old Jerusalem Road on the Levittown/Wantagh border. It is occurring at a time New York is experiencing a state-wide increase in Legionnaires’ disease cases, the Nassau County Department of Health stated.
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Experienced Legionnaires’ Disease Lawyers
Our experienced team of Legionnaires’ disease lawyers represents people nationwide who have been sickened by contaminated water and the families of those who have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one. If you or a loved one developed Legionnaires’ disease, our legal team can help. For a free consultation, please fill out the form below, call 1-888-377-8900, or text 612-261-0856.
UPDATED This post was published October 18, 2021, and updated October 19, to include information about the fatality.