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Local Law Firms Home > Maritime Law Overview > Illness at Sea > Legionnaires Disease Maritime Legionnaires Disease Its hard to imagine that some diseases still exist. Diseases like scurvy and other infections that seem like they would only exist in a movie about pirates. There are also diseases that sound like they belong in a sci-fi movie about biological warfare. Things like airborne, flesh eating viruses. As it happens, some terrifying illnesses are real, dangerous, and hide in the most unlikely places. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Legionnaires disease causes anywhere from 8,000 to 18,000 hospitalizations per year. The results could be deadly. Have you or someone you know been affected by Legionnaires disease and have worked at sea or at on off shore job? Contact a maritime lawyer to discuss your legal options today. Legionnaires disease is caused by bacteria called Legionella. Legionella is a bacteria primarily found in warm waters. The bacteria can grow in decorative fountains, infected hot tubs, large pluming and of course, parts of the ocean. The bacteria can be inhaled through an infected mist of fog and can thrive in the lungs, causing complications. Some signs of Legionnaires are:
Individuals who work at sea have it hard enough without having to deal with these illnesses, but they can and usually do happen. It’s certainly not uncommon for someone working at an offshore job to be exposed to all sorts of bacteria. Of course, this condition is not too difficult to cure. In fact, Legionnaires usually goes away on its own with time. But this bacteria could keep an individual from working for up to two or three weeks. There are laws in place to make sure that off shore workers get medical compensation in some cases. If you or someone you know works off shore and has experienced Legionnaires disease, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a maritime lawyer in your area today. |