Florida - Legionella Prevention and Costs of Legionnaires Outbreaks
Historical Headlines Related to Legionella
December 3, 2024
The risk of Legionnaires’ disease can increase due to disrupted water systems, stagnant water, and damaged cooling towers during hurricane season. The multi-year study of patients exposed to tropical storm-related rainfall in the US found a 42% (95% CI 22%–62%) increase in Legionnaires’ disease two weeks after storms. In Florida, most cases of Legionnaires’ disease occur from August to October, coinciding with the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. Since 2002, reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Florida have risen by over 650%.11 In 2020, Florida accounted for nearly 60% of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks nationally.
September 30, 2024
While reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Lee County are low relative to some other illnesses, there was a steady rise in cases over the past several years. In 2024, there were 53 cases with four months still left to go in the year. “Generally, we're going to see it in areas where water may be stagnant,” Saunders explained. “People who stay here during the wintertime, they leave their homes, they come back in. All the water that's in their pipes and their homes has sat stagnant for that whole period of time.” Saunders said it’s hard to say for sure why there’s been a spike in cases. It could be due to a growing population and better reporting of the disease, she explained, but data shows that the rate of cases is also rising in Lee County. (Source)
September 5, 2024
According to the CDC, people can contract Legionnaires‘ by breathing in mist containing Legionella bacteria. In Southwest Florida, there are eight confirmed cases in Lee County from August and 48 total in 2024 so far, but it is treatable with antibiotics. To prevent it, good maintenance of water systems is essential, as well as personal hygiene and not going in dirty, smelly water. “This bacteria likes to survive in stagnant and warm water,” said Gupta. “So whenever such conditions are generated, the weather is warm, and water systems are not properly cleaned, they get, and they get a suitable environment to grow and thrive.” (Source)
September 5, 2024
A Tennessee resident filed a lawsuit against a Florida hotel and its pool maintenance company. The lawsuit is alleging negligence that led to his severe illness from Legionnaires' disease. The lawsuit claims that the resident contracted Legionnaires' disease after staying at a hotel in Florida. During his stay, he spent significant time near the hotel's jacuzzi, which was allegedly contaminated with Legionella bacteria due to improper maintenance by both defendants. (Source)
June 20, 2024
A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed a disturbing trend of waterborne disease outbreaks caused by pathogens in drinking water. This trend spans over a six-year period from 2015 through 2020 and shows a growing threat to the water of America’s health care facilities and the people who use it to shower, wash and make ice. Florida reported the highest number of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in health care facilities that were linked to drinking water systems, and the numbers are rising. Despite being only 6.8% of the U.S. population, Florida accounted for almost 30% of disease outbreaks across the six years. In 2020 alone, Florida accounted for almost 60% of the reported outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease nationally and 38% of outbreaks in health care facilities nationwide. (Source)
August 24, 2023
A federal appeals court ruled that a cooling tower must be considered equipment, not a structure. It concluded there is insurance coverage in a negligence case filed by a worker who developed Legionnaires’ disease after working on a cooling tower. Tgeruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta in Southern-Owners Insurance Co. v. Waterhouse Corp., Nursery Supplies Inc., Darrell Patterson, in a case that hinged on how a cooling tower should be classified, affirmed a lower court decision. Mr. Patterson, a plumber and electrician, worked in and around a cooling tower on the property after being hired to do maintenance and water treatment services for the tower. About two weeks later, he was admitted to a hospital and diagnosed with Legionnaire’s disease, with water samples from the tower confirming the legionella bacteria’s presence. Mr. Patterson sued Nursey Supplies and Waterhouse for negligence. (Source)
June 16, 2023
Norwegian Cruise Lines acknowledged an exposure to legionella on at least four of its cruises on the Norwegian Prima earlier this year. (Source)
March 8, 2023
The family of a 75-year-old woman decided to travel from the UK to Florida in May 2022 to rest. They did not imagine that the vacation would be interrupted after the matriarch took a simple bath in a hot tub. The 75-year-old woman contracted Legionnaires’ disease, a severe pneumonia caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila, through contaminated water. The infection mainly affects the elderly and causes flu-like symptoms. Just a few days after the start of the stay, the elderly woman started coughing, had difficulty breathing and bruises all over her body. Still in Florida, she was taken to the hospital and doctors diagnosed Legionnaires’ disease. (Source)
March 1, 2023
In February, Norwegian Cruise Line sent a letter to guests who were booked later in the month for a cruise aboard Norwegian Prima. The letter was to inform them that two guests who sailed on the ship late last year were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease after their travels. Although the guests’ diagnosis was likely not associated with their time aboard the ship, the cruise line has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support their investigation efforts. Cruise ships must follow strict guidelines to prevent the growth and spread of Legionella bacteria and the CDC requires all vessels that sail to US ports to have a comprehensive water management program. This program must adhere to strict United States Public Health (USPH) guidelines, and all cruise ships must comply with these regulations. (Source)
2022
The Coleman Federal Correctional Complex, a Bureau of Prisons facility near Wildwood, Florida, suffered an outbreak of more than 23 cases in February 2020.
2021
In October of 2019, the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida reported multiple Legionella cases. Sixteen cases of Legionnaires' disease have been reported in Duval County, Florida in 2019.
2021
In the summer of 2017, an Orange County Florida LA Fitness club had multiple members test positive for Legionnaires’ disease. Florida Hospital Orlando’s water system is undergoing remediation after testing positive for Legionella bacteria in January 2016.
2021
The IslandWalk at the West Villages community was asked to shut down their pool and spa in February 2018 after at least 11 people were taken to area hospitals for treatment of Legionnaire’s disease.
Reported Settlements and Jury Awards
Reported settlements and jury awards have ranged from $275,000 to $5.2 million.
State Cap on Jury Awards
If punitive damages exceed $500,000, the jury is instructed to award the higher amount. In that regard, the cap isn't a strict limit, but an attempt to prevent juries from setting punitive damages significantly higher than compensatory ones. Florida is also very strict about when people can even seek punitive damages.
Groundwater Temperature Risk Level – High
Florida 67-77F
Overall Liabliity and Risk for Florida – High
Yes, ASHRAE 188 is part of the state code
Legionella and Water Management Plan Assistance
Need help? For Legionella consulting and services, Water Management Plans, Legionella Control Systems, and Legionella testing please contact us at Legionella Control Systems at 888-416-8626 or info@legionellacontrolsystems.com
