Nine months after a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at Rosemont Court senior affordable housing complex in North Portland, OR another case has been reported and a lawsuit has been filed. Since the outbreak began in January, 10 cases have been confirmed, four more are suspected and one person has died.
Contact the Pritzker Hageman Legionnaires’ Team
Phone: 1-888-377-8900 | Text: 1-612-261-0856
Contact a Legionnaires’ Disease Lawyer
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia that develops when people inhale water vapor that is contaminated with legionella bacteria, which grows best in warm, stagnant water. Symptoms, which include fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, and muscle aches, usually develop within two to 14 days of exposure. Most people with Legionnaires’ disease require hospitalization and about 10 percent of all cases are fatal
Because the plumbing systems of large buildings such as hospitals, hotels, apartment buildings, and long-term care facilities are often identified as the source of outbreaks, they are supposed to have water management plans in place that include legionella mitigation.
Rosemont Court, located at 597 N. Dekum, is owned by Northwest Housing Alternatives and managed by Income Property Management (IPA). After the outbreak was discovered in January, both companies have been working with Multnomah County Health Department, the Oregon Health Authority, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), outside water treatment experts, legionella bacteria experts, and legionella medical experts to investigate the problem and develop a mitigation strategy.
Rosemont residents were temporarily relocated as work at the complex began. The water system was disinfected, a supplemental disinfection system was installed, new filters were installed on all sink faucets and showerheads in every unit, and regular testing of water samples was conducted. None of the tests was positive for legionella.
But after residents returned to the building, two more of them contracted Legionnaires’ disease. In June, NHA offered permanent relocation assistance to the 95 residents of the building. But many of the people hoping to leave Rosemont said they are having difficulty finding an affordable alternative, according to an Oregon Public Broadcasting report.
Related
At Rosemont Court Legionnaires’ Persists After Outbreak, Mitigation Efforts
New Legionnaires’ case at Rosemont Court Months After Deadly Outbreak
Legionnaires’ Outbreak at Oregon Senior Complex: 4 Hospitalized, 1 Dead
In late September, another Rosemont resident was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. Last week, she filed a Legionnaires’ disease lawsuit that claims IPA’s botched repairs to the water system caused flooding in her apartment and she became ill from the standing water as was hospitalized.
Legionnaires’ Disease Legal Team
Our Legionnaires’ disease lawyers represent 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 were sickened in this outbreak, 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.
