A new study conducted by the Yale School of Public Health links watersheds and drainage basins to an increased risk for Legionnaires’ disease, a deadly form of pneumonia that spreads through inhalation of contaminated airborne water particles.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has fallen ill with Legionnaires’ disease, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit and our lawyers can help.
What’s the Problem?
January 25, 2018 – An analysis of nearly 2 decades of studies by lead author Kelsie Cassell, M.P.H., found that elevated rainfall and greater streamflow were linked to an increased incidence of Legionnaires’ disease, according to the Yale School of Public Health.
For the study, Cassell and her colleagues looked at cases of non-outbreak legionellosis requiring hospitalization from 1999 to 2015. They found 2 regional watersheds, the Naugatuck and Quinebaug, showed a higher incidence of disease compared to the statewide average.
The researchers also found an increased rate of Legionnaires’ among people who lived near 4 rivers. Those living within 10 miles of the Quinebaug River and the Hockanum Brook had the highest increased risk of the illness, according to the study.
Natural reservoirs were also found to have a greater affect on the development of sporadic legionellosis, a respiratory disease caused by Legionella bacteria, than previously estimated.
“Our findings demonstrate that the natural environment could have a greater role in influencing the risk of disease than previously thought,” Cassell said.
The study was published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Do I Have a Legionnaires’ Disease Lawsuit?
The Workplace and Environmental Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Legionnaires’ disease lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury and death cases in all 50 states.
Free Case Evaluation: Again, if you had symptoms of Legionnaires, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.