You May Have Been Exposed to Legionella “Legionnaires’ Disease”

HOW WILL YOU KNOW?

Legionella pneumophila is a dangerous bacteria spread through water mist in the air, inside places you might not suspect such as hotels and grocery stores. You cannot catch it from another person. Early symptoms seem like pneumonia but the disease has been fatal in 5-30% of cases.

Anyone can become ill, but some are higher risk:

Older Adults

Smokers

Anyone with a weak immune system

Symptoms:

Headache

Muscle Pain

Chills and Fever

Cough

Difficulty breathing

Tiredness

Chest Pain

Loss of Appetite

Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea

Mental Confusion

Five-thirty percent of cases are fatal

BUT THAT SOUNDS JUST LIKE PNEUMONIA

Legionella and a milder flu-like form called Pontiac Fever, both called Legionellosis, are often wrongly diagnosed. While immediate antibiotic treatment may cure the disease, problems such as fatigue, nerve and muscular symptoms can continue long after.

MOST COMMON PLACES TO CONTRACT LEGIONELLA

NOTE: The first recognized cases of Legionnaires’ disease occurred in 1976 in Philadelphia, PA. Among attendees of a Legionnaires’ convention held at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, 221 attendees contracted the disease and 34 of them died.

You may have seen more recent news coverage of Legionnaires’ disease on a cruise ship and even in Louisiana at a grocery store with contaminated produce misting. It should be the responsibility of these facilities to meticulously clean and disinfect systems, regularly test the water and quickly alert anyone who may have been exposed. Because that is not dependable, you will have to be watchful about your own possible illness.

Most sources of infection are buildings such as hotels that contain Hot tubs, Whirlpools, Swimming Pools or Fountains.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO BECOME INFECTED IS BREATHE

You do not need to be in the water. The bacterium releases into the air and is circulated throughout the cooling and heating system. So you could become exposed anywhere in a building or structure.

IF THE SYMPTOMS SEEM BETTER, DO I STILL HAVE LEGIONELLA?

Testing long after exposure and even treatment can detect antibodies that prove the disease is still in your system. You may have long-term symptoms that you are not aware resulted from this disease.

IF YOU OR YOUR GROUP RECALL AN ILLNESS OR CONTINUING EFFECTS IN THE LAST YEAR, CALL HOWARD AND REED.

Tell us the details of your stay and whether you had later symptoms. We can arrange for medical tests to determine whether you were exposed. Our Attorneys are familiar with this disease and have represented clients in previous Louisiana cases, which resulted in compensation.