Personal Injury Law

Possible Legionnaires? Disease Outbreak in Elmira

By ChristinaSonsire

Legionnaires' Outbreak at the Flannery Towers

The Elmira Star Gazette is reporting a possible outbreak of Legionnaires Disease at the Ed Flannery Towers senior housing complex in the City of Elmira.  Legionnaires’ Disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella, a bacterium found primarily in warm water environments.  The United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention descibes the symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease — such as high fever, chills, coughing, muscle aches and headaches – as being similar to many other forms of pneumonia, making it difficult to diagnose at first.  The CDC states Legionnaires’ Disease is a very serious illness and causes death in up to 30% of cases.  The good news is many cases of Legionnaires’ Disease can be treated successfully – if diagnosed early and properly treated.

According to the Star Gazette, the Chemung County and New York State Health Departments are investigating the outbreak, but have not yet determined the number of people potentially affected by the disease.

Thanks for reading,

Christina Bruner Sonsire, Esq.

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Full post as published by New York Injury Law Blog on August 12, 2008 (boomark / email).