Contaminated luxury hotel water infects 3 with Legionnaires’ disease

2009-12-16 05:36:30 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Justice News Flash, Personal Injury)

Legal News for Florida Personal Injury Attorneys. Three cases of Legionnaires’ disease stem from water contamination at Epic Hotel, one dead, two sick.

Water contamination at a Miami hotel infects three with Legionnaires’ disease, one dead.

Miami, FL— A luxury Miami hotel has stopped accepting new guests to assess a problem in which contaminated water led to three cases of Legionnaires’ disease over the last two months, as reported by the Miami Herald.

The first case occurred when a European man stayed at the Miami hotel, Epic, in September 2009. The man allegedly left the hotel for a cruise trip he was supposed to take, but had to be transported to the hospital by emergency medical services (EMS) instead. According to medical personnel, the tourist died from Legionnaires’ disease in the hospital. Another European man who visited the hotel in late November, as well as a European woman who stayed there this month, reportedly became sick after being exposed to the disease.

According to MayoClinic.com, Legionnaires’ disease is a very serious form of pneumonia caused by a bacterium known as Legionella pneumophila. Though the disease cannot be transferred through direct person-to-person contact, inhaling the bacteria can be detrimental to some. It was noted that individuals with weakened immune systems, as well as smokers, have a higher chance of contracting the infection. It allegedly takes two to 14 days for the legionella bacteria to develop into Legionnaires’ disease, which will result in symptoms such as headache, muscle tension, chills, fevers that could exceed 104 degrees, coughing, chest pain, fatigue, nausea, lack of mental clarity, etc. It was also stated that not all individuals who have been exposed to this bacteria will contract the disease and become sick.

It was reported that Epic Hotel had a distinctive filtration system installed to improve the quality of the water, yet the water filter was so powerful it removed the chlorine that was necessary in preventing harmful bacteria from contaminating the water.

According to the Miami-Dade County Health Department, there is no need for panic since only three cases have been reported out of the thousands of people who have come into contact with the contaminated water at the Epic Hotel.

Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Personal Injury Lawyers.