Legionnaires' Disease Lawyer

Officials have confirmed a third case of Legionnaires’ disease at Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy, IL. This confirmation comes less than a month after the opening of a new water system at the home. The status of the third patient is unknown.

The Quincy home has experienced problems with Legionnaires’ disease in the past. Last year, 53 people contracted Legionnaires’ disease and 12 died in an outbreak, prompting officials to replace the home’s water system. The new water system cost nearly $5 million and was designed to combat the spread of bacteria by heating and chlorinating water in individual buildings rather than at a central location. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner was recently present when the water system was opened, and spokespeople for the governor have said that the state is doing everything possible to reduce the risk of further contamination.

The Quincy Veterans’ Home is over 120 years old. Aging water systems are often at risk of harboring Legionella bacteria. Veterans’ homes and other residential health facilities should take special precautions to keep their water systems safe, as the populations they serve are often older and at greater risk of having compromised immune systems.

Jules Zacher is an attorney in Philadelphia who has tried Legionnaires’ disease cases across the U.S.  Please visit LegionnaireLawyer.com again for updates.