23 Quincy Veterans Suffering from Legionnaires Disease After Outbreak

 Posted on September 01, 2015 in Food Poisoning

A recent outbreak of Legionnaires Disease at the Illinois Veterans' Home has left 23 residents suffering its symptoms. These symptoms include fatigue, body aches, fever, coughing, and lung inflammation. The cause of the outbreak has not yet been identified. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) are working together closely with the Adams County Health Department to determine how the disease was brought into the facility.

Individuals who suffer from food poisoning may be able to recover economic damages through a food poisoning claim. Food poisoning claims are a type of personal injury claim that are made by a victim to recover money from the party responsible for his or her illness or injury.

What is Legionnaires Disease?

Legionnaires Disease is a form of pneumonia that is caused by the Legionella bacteria. It is transmitted through the inhalation of contaminated water or soil in aerosol form. For example, when contaminated water passes through shower heads, faucets, swimming pools, or humidifiers, individuals who inhale the water vapor can be exposed to the bacteria and put at risk for developing Legionnaires Disease.

Legionnaires Disease is a respiratory illness, which means that it targets the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system. It is especially dangerous for older adults and others with compromised immune systems. When caught early and treated with antibiotics, treatment for the disease is generally very effective.

If You Suffer from a Disease Due to Exposure

Legionnaires Disease is not the only disease caused by air or food-borne bacteria. Similarly transmitted diseases include salmonella, botulism, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). If you have been exposed to one or more of these illnesses in a hospital or nursing home setting, you could potentially have grounds for a personal injury claim.

Be sure to get the medical treatment you need before taking any other steps toward filing a personal injury claim. Not only is this an integral part of the recovery process, but your documentation showing your interaction with a doctor and other health care professionals will be important pieces of evidence to support your claim.

Food poisoning and other bacterial illnesses can seriously impact your life and career. A minor infection can keep you out of work and require you to spend time and money on your recovery. A more serious infection could cost you your life.

Food Poisoning Attorneys in Illinois

If you are suffering from a food borne illness, you could be entitled to recoup some of your losses through a claim against the party responsible for your exposure. To learn more about this process and determine your legal rights as a food poisoning victim, contact the Law Offices of Newland & Newland, LLP to schedule your initial legal consultation with us. Our team of food poisoning attorneys has more than 20 years of experience handling this type of case. We can draw upon this experience to help you seek the money you deserve.