A resident at Klein Center in West Burlington, IA has been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, according to a report in the Pen City Current. People get Legionnaires’ disease, a severe, often fatal form of pneumonia, when they inhale water vapor that is contaminated with Legionella bacteria.
Do You Need a Legionnaires’ Disease Lawyer?
After the resident developed pneumonia-like symptoms, tests confirmed the presence of Legionella. Water samples were collected from Klein Center and Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center – West Burlington and sent to the Iowa State Hygienic Lab for testing. Legionella was detected in the Klein Center water samples but not in samples from the hospital.
Klein Center, an assisted living facility, is operated by Great River Health System which has contacted the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a third-party consulting company on a remediation plan. Steps taken so far include:
- Water was shut off to the residence of the Legionnaires’ disease patient
- Bottled water for drinking and hygiene use has been provided to residents
- Point-of-use bacterial filters have been installed on all the showers and faucets
- A disinfection process of the water supply
- Data is being collected to evaluate progress
Legionnaires’ Disease Symptoms
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, which usually develop within 14 days of exposure, include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Muscle aches
Most people with Legionnaires’ disease require hospitalization. About 10 percent of cases are fatal. Some people are at elevated risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease including:
- People over 50
- Current or former smokers
- People with chronic lung disease
- People with weak immune systems
- People with cancer, diabetes, kidney failure, or liver failure
Experienced Legionnaires’ Disease Lawyers
Our Legionnaires’ lawyers are among the few in the nation who have won multimillion-dollar recoveries for Legionnaires’ disease outbreak victims and their families. To request your 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.