Articles Posted in Premises Liability

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Adams County health officials have reported that two more victims of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the Quincy Illinois Veterans’ Home died as a result of the disease, bringing the overall death toll to nine.

The local health department is still investigating the source of the outbreak that has caused over 50 residents to become ill.

Legionnaires’ disease can be caused by bacteria formations in improperly maintained water systems in buildings. The bacteria can be carried in water vapor that a person might inhale causing a number of symptoms, some of which are similar to pneumonia.

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Four patients at the Quincy Veterans Home in Quincy, Illinois have died during an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease. According to the Adams County Health Department, twenty-five other patients at the home have tested positive for Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’.

People with respiratory illnesses and the elderly are at greater risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease as well as suffering from complications associated with this affliction. County officials are still working to determine if any other residents who may be affected.

The bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ may be found in improperly maintained water and plumbing systems. A person can become infected by breathing in water vapor contaminated with the bacteria according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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The Chicago Department of Public Health confirmed that a person living at a rehab facility in Chicago’s Gold Coast has died of legionella. Officials from the department have not yet confirmed the source of the bacteria.

Legionella is known as the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease. This type of bacteria can be found in water systems, such as improperly maintained plumbing, hot-water tanks, or cooling towers. People who contract the disease can exhibit symptoms similar to those of pneumonia.

Early detection is important to treatment and preventing others from becoming exposed.

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Legionnaires’ disease is not a common illness, but for those most susceptible – people over 65, smokers, and people suffering from lung disease or weak immune systems – it can prove fatal. The bacteria that causes Legionnaires’, called legionella, spreads through contaminated water. The bacteria can become airborne when water from cooling systems or plumbing becomes vapor, or in some cases, the bacteria can be found in drinking water.

Preventing outbreaks caused by contaminated drinking water may require increased diligence by some property owners. Indoor plumbing lines can sometimes be breeding grounds for legionella bacteria. Regular monitoring of these water systems may help save lives in the future.

To speak to attorney Joseph Klest personally about Legionnaires Disease, please call 312-380-5467

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At least one person in the Milwaukee area has died this year from Legionnaires’ Disease, but the source of the outbreak has not yet been determined, and the number of reported cases in Wisconsin continues to rise.

Legionnaires’ Disease, got its name from a pneumonia outbreak in 1977 at an American Legion convention at a hotel in Philadelphia where dozens of people died. It was determined that these fatal cases of pneumonia were caused by a previously undiscovered bacterial strain. This bacteria that we now call Legionella can form in improperly kept, dirty, air conditioning systems or humidifiers.

Another possible contamination source could be large industrial cooling towers located building roofs. These towers can emit large amounts of steam into the atmosphere carrying contaminated water vapor for miles in multiple directions putting local residents at risk.

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A Pittsburgh VA nursing home is under investigation by the the Veterans Affairs Inspector General following a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at the hospital. The purpose of the investigation is to determine whether the hospital’s administration took proper precautions to prevent the Legionnaire’s outbreak.

Legionnaires disease can be contracted when a certain type of bacteria forms in poorly maintained ventilation systems. The bacteria becomes airborne in water vapor and the disease can be transmitted through inhalation. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are often compared to pneumonia and this illness can cause death in some cases. People with respiratory problems and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to this disease.

Attorney Joseph G. Klest has been representing people who were injured through no fault of their own for over 30 years. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Legionnaires disease, please dial 866-264-7639, to speak with an experienced attorney.

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At least four patients have been diagnosed with Legionnaire’s disease at Pittsburgh Veterans Hospital in Oakland

A person can contract Legionnaire’s disease by inhaling water vapor containing Legionella bacteria, a form of pneumonia. This bacteria is known to grow in sometimes poorly maintained water systems.

Not everyone who comes in contact with the bacteria will necessarily become ill. However, the people most vulnerable to Legionnaire’s disease are the elderly and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

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The hot water system at Seneca Tower Apartments, a high rise apartment building for senior citizens in Rochester NY, has been linked to at least two recent cases of Legionnaires’ disease.

Seniors and those with existing repertory problems are especially vulnerable to Legionnaires’, a preventable disease that can be contracted when the bacteria that causes the illness grows in poorly maintained water systems. Water containing the bacteria can turn to water vapor where people indoors can breath it in and become sick. The symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease may be similar to pneumonia. Legionnaires’ disease may also cause death.

If you or a loved one have been infected with Legionnaires’ disease, please call 866-264-7639 to schedule a free consultation with Joseph Klest.

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The dangerous bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease was found in three suburban Batavia schools yesterday. Although, so far, there have not been any reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease linked to the traces of bacteria found at the schools, a recent outbreak at a downtown Chicago hotel has been blamed for several deaths.

Legionnaires’ disease can be contracted by inhaling contaminated water vapor. The symptoms can be similar to pneumonia. People who contract Legionnaires’ disease can experience fever, headaches, coughs, and chest pain, among other things. Legionnaires’ disease can be very serious and in some cases has been known to cause death. People with pre-existing illnesses and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to infection.

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The recent cases of Legionnaires’ disease found linked to a downtown Chicago hotel may cause some area residents as well as previous and current guests and staff of the hotel to be concerned about their health. Some basic information about the disease, its symptoms and causes can be helpful to those who suspect they may be at risk of contracting the illness.

Some information about Legionnaires’ disease:

•Legionnaires’ disease is caused by a bacteria that infects the lungs causing a sometimes fatal form of pneumonia.

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