Contaminated Water Culprit in Maryland Legionnaire’s Outbreak
By injuheis on December 29, 2009
Premises liability is an issue that often isn’t discussed until some sort of problem arises. Properly maintaining building structures and ensuring that all inhabitants and visitors are safe should be the primary concern of building owners everywhere. However, according to the Chicago Tribune, a senior living facility in Maryland that was recently the site of a Legionnaire’s disease outbreak may have a contaminated water source that is causing people to fall ill. Clearly, this is an indication that necessary safety precautions may not have been put into place in order to fully protect residents.
According to the article, the afflicted senior living facility is 10 years old, and stands on the former site of Memorial Stadium. Initially, it was believed that the incident may have been confined to only a few rooms, possibly due to an infected heating and air-conditioning unit (each room has its own such unit), but that theory has become less likely considering that the number of infected individuals increased as time passed. The incident sparked much concern amongst elderly residents, especially considering that building management, usually quick to respond to such incidents, has been relatively lax in dispensing information to worried seniors.
Legionnaire’s disease is an affliction that generally affects individuals that are 65 years of age or older, or those individuals who already have underlying health conditions. In a facility that caters specifically to seniors, one would think that more rigorous safety measures would be taken, or at the very least regular inspections for testing the water would occur to ensure that the water supply has not been tainted in any way. When property owners fail to provide safe living conditions for their tenants, those property owners may be held liable for damages that result if their tenants become afflicted with an ailment that could have been prevented on the part of the property owner.
If you have fallen ill due to Legionnaire’s disease or any other ailment that may have been caused by negligent behavior on the part of another individual or entity, contact Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” for a free evaluation of your case. Personal injury claims should not be ignored, and those responsible for your injuries or illness should be held accountable for their actions. Please call our Legionnaire’s disease attorneys today for a case consultation.
Source:http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/bal-md.hs.legionnaires16oct16,0,7986418.story
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Maryland Seniors at Risk in Legionnaire’s Infected Living Facility
By injuheis on December 18, 2009
According to a Chicago Tribune article, a recent outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease has afflicted residents at a Maryland senior living facility and sparked concern amongst others. Reportedly, one person has already succumbed to the disease, while four others remain afflicted. A current investigation into the cause of the outbreak is underway, with officials from both the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Baltimore Health Department interviewing residents and testing the facility’s water source.
Legionnaire’s disease is a form of bacterial pneumonia that is caused by Legionella bacteria, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), is often found in water sources such as hot tubs and air-conditioning cooling towers. Air-conditioning and plumbing systems are breeding grounds for the bacteria, and it is the responsibility of facilities catering to residents and visitors to ensure that such systems are in proper working order and are not harboring the airborne bacteria. Legionnaire’s disease is spread when a person inhales contaminated water droplets, and it cannot be spread from person to person.
Outbreaks of disease in any location where people are in close proximity to one another is always cause for concern. However, when a disease isn’t even spread via human interaction, but through some other more preventable component, it becomes the responsibility of the individual or entity in charge of said component to take the necessary action in order to correct the problem. Negligent behavior and failure to act should never be an excuse for another person’s pain and suffering.
If you have fallen ill due to Legionnaire’s disease or any other ailment that may have been caused by negligent behavior on the part of another person, don’t hesitate to contact Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” for a free evaluation of your case. As an experienced Legionnaire’s disease lawyer, Steven H. Heisler will ensure that your rights are upheld at all times. Personal injury claims should not be ignored, and those responsible for your injuries or illness should be held accountable for their actions. Please call us today for a case consultation.
Source:http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/bal-md.hs.legionnaires16oct16,0,7986418.story
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Posted in: Legionnaire's Disease |
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