Legionnaires' Disease Archives

March 30, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Proposed New Brunswick Cooling Tower Legislation

In response to a 2019 legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Moncton where fifteen people were hospitalized, the New Brunswick government has introduced legislation to reduce the risk of legionnaires’ disease in cooling towers. This bill was introduced by Health Minister Dorothy Shephard and would require a registry and associated maintenance and testing of cooling towers. The registry is meant to help quickly locate the towers for testing in the event of future outbreaks. Public Health officials have said that regular testing and maintenance can reduce the risk of bacteria; however, to this point there was nothing requiring such work in New…

March 15, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Proposed Pennsylvania Legionnaires’ Disease Legislation

As a result of the substantial increase in Legionnaires’ disease cases in Pennsylvania, state Senators Wayne Fontana (D-42) and Joe Pittman (R-41), in a bipartisan effort, have introduced legislation SB 1125 to help curtail the spread of Legionella bacteria. Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the bacteria genus Legionella. Infection occurs when an infectious dose of the bacteria enters deeply into a susceptible person’s lungs, either by inhaling contaminated aerosolized water droplets, or by aspirating water into the lungs. A Senate Democrat hearing focusing on Legionella was held on May 5, 2021, where expert panelists testified that buildings shut down during the pandemic and…

March 14, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Legionnaires’ Disease Cases Rise in the Coachella Valley

There have been 20 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the Coachella Valley between the fall of 2021 and early 2022. 14 of the 20 reported Legionnaires’ disease cases required hospitalization and two resulted in death. The source of the increase in cases remains unknown. County health officials are working with the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Geoffrey Leung, a Riverside County Public Health, warned residents in the affected areas to seek medical attention if they experience pneumonia-like symptoms. Despite this warning, Dr. Leung stated that the risk to the…

January 25, 2022 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Potential Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak at Missouri Hospital

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is investigating a potential outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease at Phelphs Hospital in Rolla, Missouri. Four cases have been identified among previously hospitalized patients. The DHSS issued a warning to healthcare providers and anyone in the public who may have been in contact with a water source at the hospital. While the DHSS is investigating the outbreak, Phelps Health is monitoring and testing its water system and providing patients with information on Legionnaire’s disease. To read more about the potential outbreak in Missouri, click here. For more information on Legionnaires’ disease, check out…

Legionella Pneumophila Bacteria. 3D illustration

December 6, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Legal Aspects of an Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease at a Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the bacteria genus Legionella. Infection occurs when an infectious dose of the bacteria enters deeply into a susceptible person’s lungs, either by inhaling contaminated aerosolized water droplets, or by aspirating water into the lungs. The outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease which this paper deals with occurred in Ocean City, Maryland. In total, there were nine confirmed cases associated with the hotel. This paper explores several lawsuits filed against the hotel. Hotel guests who contracted the disease filed suit in federal court, applying Maryland state law, and Maryland state court. The victims brought claims for negligence, punitive damages, and violation of Maryland’s consumer law. This paper…

November 5, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Confirmed Case of Legionnaires’ Disease at Missouri Mental Health Facility

A patient at Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center has tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease. The 66-year-old patient was transported to a hospital and is in stable condition. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services began extensive testing of the water systems at the Farmington, Missouri, facility. The Department is also assisting the facility in implementing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. After a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at a veterans home in the neighboring state of Illinois, health department officials in Missouri tightened reporting requirements for Legionnaires’ disease in the state. Facilities must report evidence of…

October 29, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak in Washington County, Oregon

Public health officials in Washington County, Oregon, are investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases that has left four people hospitalized. In total, there are six confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the county. Washington County has seen fourteen cases so far this year, and public health officials are speculating that the county may exceed its record number of nineteen cases in 2019. The Washington County Public Health Department, along with the Oregon Health Authority and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are collecting samples and performing testing of potential sources of the outbreak. Public health officials are encouraging residents…

September 8, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Two Individuals are Infected With Legionnaires Disease After A Cruise Onboard The Carnival Horizon

Cruise ship passengers have more to worry about than COVID-19 on cruise ships. Carnival Cruise lines recently sent a letter that informed their guests that two cases of Legionnaires disease occurred among passengers. The two cases occurred in July and August 2021. Carnival Cruise Line is working with the CDC to investigate this potential outbreak. The ship had not been used since March of last year. Stagnant water increases the risk of Legionella transmission as it creates favorable conditions for Legionella growth. The cruise line has begun substantial mitigation measures on board the ship in question. This includes testing all…

September 7, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak That Occurred In Moncton, Canada, In 2019 Has Sparked Several Lawsuits

A Legionnaires disease outbreak that occurred in Moncton, Canada, in 2019 has sparked several lawsuits. Twelve of the Sixteen individuals that were known to be infected are suing Organigram, a Moncton based cannabis grower. They allege that Organigram failed to properly test and maintain its cooling towers, which resulted in this outbreak. In 2019, this outbreak hospitalized 15 of the 16 individuals that were infected with Legionnaires’ disease. All the plaintiffs either lived, worked near, or travelled by Organigram before becoming symptomatic. The cases make three main accusations. They allege that Organigram was negligent in maintaining the cooling towers, that…

September 6, 2021 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Several Recent Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks Spark Concern Among Public Health Officials

As recently reported on our blog, there is an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Harlem, NY. Additionally, dozens are sick after they were exposed this month at Duke University’s fantasy basketball camp. All over the country, cases of Legionnaires’ disease appear to be on the rise. Michigan noted an alarming statistic in July of an increase of 569% from July 2020. This is a huge spike in reported Legionnaires’ disease cases, with over 100 cases being reported in Michigan in the first half of July alone. [1] Many individuals are returning to buildings like schools and offices that have been…