Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the bacteria Legionella. The disease got its name from an outbreak that occurred at an American Legion convention in 1976 in Philadelphia.

Since then, there have been several outbreaks worldwide, mostly in large buildings with complex water systems such as hotels, hospitals, and nursing homes.

What is Legionnaires’ Disease?

The symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are similar to pneumonia, including cough, chest pain, fever, and shortness of breath. The disease can be severe and requires immediate medical attention.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease each year in the United States.

The High Cost of Legionnaires’ Disease

Not only is Legionnaires’ disease a severe illness, but it can also have significant financial costs. Treatment for Legionnaires’ disease often involves hospitalization, including intensive care and respiratory support.

Therefore, treating this disease can be expensive.

Additionally, there are other costs associated with Legionnaires’ disease. For example, buildings may have to be closed down and disinfected, and employees may miss work, resulting in lost income.

Furthermore, there may be potential legal lawsuits against building owners or managers if they failed to properly maintain their water systems, resulting in the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease.

Legionnaires’ Disease and Insurance Coverage

Business owners and managers often carry insurance policies to cover claims related to Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks. However, the insurance company will want to investigate the case to determine the liability of the building owner or manager.

Related Article Insurance coverage for Legionnaires’ disease

If the building owner or manager failed to maintain the water system adequately, causing the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, the insurance company may deny the claim.

In that case, the building owner or manager would be responsible for all the costs associated with the disease, including medical expenses, loss of income, and disinfecting costs.

Preventing Legionnaires’ Disease

The best way to deal with Legionnaires’ disease is to prevent it from happening.

Property owners and managers can help prevent outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease by maintaining their water systems and ensuring that they comply with state and local regulations. For example, water management plans that include regular testing of water quality can be implemented to detect Legionella bacteria early.

Additionally, building owners and managers should ensure that their water systems are free from dead ends, blocks, and places where water can stagnate, as Legionella bacteria thrive in such locations.

Increasing the temperature of the water to 140 degrees Fahrenheit or above can also be helpful in preventing the growth of Legionella bacteria.

Conclusion

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe illness that can be expensive to treat and lead to liability issues for building owners or managers.

Therefore, it’s crucial to take preventive measures to avoid any potential outbreak of the disease, regularly testing water quality and ensuring proper maintenance of the water systems.

Insurance policies can provide some coverage for Legionnaires’ disease, but building owners or managers need to ensure that they comply with regulations and maintain their water systems to avoid any potential liability and loss of insurance coverage.