As reported by the Chicago Tribune on Oct. 1, 2019:

Another case of Legionnaires’ disease reported at Batavia retirement facility

The Kane County Health Department announced Tuesday it has been informed of another case of Legionnaires’ disease at a Batavia retirement facility, bringing the total number of cases in the city to 15.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection or pneumonia that people can get by breathing in small droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria, public health officials said.

The disease has symptoms that include a cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and headaches. Symptoms can begin two to 10 days after someone is exposed to the bacteria.

There have been 13 confirmed cases at Covenant Living at the Holmstad retirement facility at the southwest corner of Fabyan Parkway and Route 31 in Batavia.

The Mayo Clinic – Legionnaires Disease

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia — lung inflammation usually caused by infection. It’s caused by a bacterium known as legionella.

Most people catch Legionnaires’ disease by inhaling the bacteria from water or soil. Older adults, smokers and people with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to Legionnaires’ disease.

The legionella bacterium also causes Pontiac fever, a milder illness resembling the flu. Pontiac fever usually clears on its own, but untreated Legionnaires’ disease can be fatal. Although prompt treatment with antibiotics usually cures Legionnaires’ disease, some people continue to have problems after treatment.

Experience Matters

Sauder Schelkopf has litigated Hepatitis C cases in Washington and Denver.  In Washington, an emergency room nurse allegedly infected with Hepatitis C was injecting herself with a partial dose of narcotics intended for her patients and then injecting the remaining dose with the same needle into her patients.  Read about it here. In Denver, a surgical technician exposed nearly 3,000 patients to HIV.  Read about it in the Denver Post.  We are also currently litigating a case against Walgreens and Theranos in Arizona related to misrepresentations made concerning its “disruptive” blood testing.  Read about it in USA Today.  We reached a $246,000 Hepatitis C class action settlement on behalf of individuals who dined at a restaurant.

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