Legionnaires' Disease Archives

August 28, 2023 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Legionnaire’ disease cases in Las Vegas All Over Again

Two people who stayed at the Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino were recently diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, as was also a former guest of the Orleans Hotel and Casino, according to the Southern Nevada Health District. Earlier this year, 2 Legionnaires disease cases were reported among guests at the Orleans , prompting an investigation. According to news reports, the Orleans’ water system was remediated and tested for the presence of the legionella bacteria, showing that there was no bacteria being detected at the time. Even so, after the additional recent new case was reported at the Orleans, environmental samples tested…

March 5, 2023 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Outbreak at Las Vegas Hotel

According to news reports, the Southern Nevada Health District is investigating two cases of Legionnaires’ disease at a hotel in Las Vegas. The guests stayed there in ecember 2022 and January 2023. Legionella bacteria was found at the Clarion Hotel again according to the news report. It appears that the legionella was found in the potable water system. This office has previously represented numerous guests who had stayed at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas and acquired Legionnaires’ disease as part of an outbreak. These victims also acquired their disease from the potable water system. The transmission of the disease…

August 1, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Napa County Health Officials Investigating Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak

Following nine confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ Disease, Napa County health officials have announced they are opening an investigation. County officials have also identified two suspected cases and one “probable” case. All nine cases were reported to Napa County Public Health between July 11 and July 27. So far, all nine individuals have been hospitalized but there have not been any reported deaths, according to the county. The investigation is ongoing. To read more about the Napa County Health Officials Investigating Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak, click here. To read our firm’s white paper on Legionnaires’ disease and COVID-19, click here. For more…

July 18, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Marion County Department of Health to Inspect Hundreds of Pools to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease

Since 2015, there have been at least 208 illness outbreaks associated with public pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds according to the CDC. That’s at least 3,646 cases of illness and 13 deaths each year. Among these outbreaks, Legionnaires’ Disease is especially prominent. According to the Marion County Public Health Department, the number is in actuality, difficult to measure, as it’s believed most cases go unreported. The Public Health Department inspects more than 900 private and public pools each year. In fact, according to Michael Furnas, a pool specialist who tests pH levels and disinfectant concentration, estimates that…

June 27, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Avoiding Germs in Hotel Pools and Hot Tubs

The contents of this blog are based on a recent article in the New York Times, “How to Avoid Nasty Pool Germs This Summer” written by Melinda Wenner Moyer. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about one-third of known outbreaks between 2015 and 2019 caused by germs in U.S. pools, hot tubs and water parks were traced back to hotels and motels. One theory for why resort pools and hot tubs account for such a large portion of outbreaks is that the person typically responsible for water quality maintenance is also responsible for a variety of other things…

June 20, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Cooling Tower Linked to 2019 New Brunswick Outbreak Was Not Properly Maintained

Following a 2019 Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that infected 16 people, a newly released report by New Brunswick Public Health says Organigram, the company whose cooling towers were linked to the outbreak, did not regularly clean their cooling towers. The 60-page document states that the company’s facility had two new cooling towers in 2019 that didn’t have a chemical treatment system activated. Further, regular cleanings and disinfecting were not scheduled and there was no documented water safety or maintenance plan. The report further states that 16 confirmed Legionnaires’ disease cases were reported between July 15 and August 27, 2019. Of those…

June 18, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Health Department Closes Investigation of Highbridge Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak

Following the diagnosis of 30 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the Highbridge section of the Bronx, the Health Department has now closed their investigation due to no new cases being identified in the last four weeks. Overall, 28 people were hospitalized, with 24 having been discharged, and 2 deaths. After investigating the cooling towers in the area for Legionella bacteria, the Health Department’s Public Health Laboratory have found that the source of the outbreak was a cooling tower located at 1325 Jerome Ave, 10452. The building owner was immediately ordered to disinfect the tower and perform additional remediation. To…

June 13, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Availability Bias and its Relationship with Legionnaires’ Disease and Covid-19

A case study, analyzing how availability bias has affected diagnoses of Covid-19 and Legionella, was recently published and presented a case study of a 56-year-old man who was improperly diagnosed with COVID-19. The patient came in exhibiting many symptoms and diagnostics commonly associated with COIVD-19. Further, he made it known that had had come in contact with confirmed cases of COVID-19 and was deemed to have a high probability of having contracted the disease. Although his COVID-19 tests came back negative three times, due to the powerful effect of anchoring, the diagnosis of COVID-19 remained high. However, on day two…

June 12, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Illinois Passes legislation Aimed at Protecting At-Risk Residents from Waterborne Health Risks

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed into law legislation aimed at protecting at-risk residents in Illinois from waterborne illnesses such as Legionnaires’ disease. The legislation requires water utilities to notify healthcare and senior living facilities of water supply disruptions that could lead to water quality and microbial risks, such as legionella and other waterborne pathogens. Brad Considine, the Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease Director of Strategic Initiatives said, “This legislation is a great step forward in recognizing the need for a comprehensive and proactive approach to preventing Legionnaires’ Disease.” To read more about the Illinois Passes Legislation Aimed at…

June 5, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Attorney General Reaches Agreement With Verizon Following Cooling Tower Violations

Following an investigation of Verizon that revealed 225 alleged violations of cooling tower laws meant to prevent the spread of Legionnaires’ disease, the company has come to an agreement with New York Attorney General Letitia James. The agreement requires Verizon to create policies and procedures to make sure the company complies with cooling tower laws and pay a $118,000 fine. The investigation found that Verizon had violated Legionnaires’ cooling tower laws in 30 instances across seven buildings in the Bronx. These violations were linked to a 2015 outbreak in the Bronx that caused 120…