Michigan: Genesee Co. Legionnaire's Outbreak- new case reported

[Emily]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...disease-unclear-if-connected-to-water-supply/

[h=1]Flint, Mich., has 10 fatal cases of Legionnaires? disease; unclear if linked to water[/h] By Sarah Kaplan January 14 More disturbing news has come for residents of Flint, Mich., who are already reeling from an escalating health crisis tied to their city?s lead-contaminated water supply.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services officials announced Wednesday that the city and the surrounding area have seen a spike in cases of Legionnaires? disease ? a bacterial infection that can be deadly for between 5 to 30 percent of those who contract it.
So far, 87 cases have been diagnosed since June, two months after Flint changed its water source to the Flint River, the Detroit Free Press reported. Ten of those cases were fatal...

See also: [h=2]Flint, MI crisis: a cautionary tale about America?s water supply [/h] [h=2]Flint, MI: Lead levels rise in children after city tries to save money by using river water that turned out to be "highly toxic"[/h]

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://michiganradio.org/post/death-toll-rises-genesee-county-legionnaires-disease-outbreak#stream/0

Death toll rises in Genesee County Legionnaires' disease outbreak
By Steve Carmody ? 52 minutes ago

State officials are now confirming 12 people died in a Legionnaires? disease outbreak in Genesee County.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released the updated numbers today.

In all, 91 cases of Legionnaires' disease have been confirmed in Genesee County in 2014 and 2015. Three new cases, including two fatalities have been added to the list. State officials cite clerical reasons why the cases were not included in the original group earlier this year...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...enesee-county-new-case-legionnaires/95672136/


Genesee County has new case of Legionnaires?
The Detroit News 5:42 p.m. EST December 20, 2016

The Genesee County Health Department is investigating a new case of Legionnaires? disease, the 16th reported for the county this year, it said Tuesday.

Legionnair?s? cases and deaths have been on the rise in Genesee County and Flint since the city changed the source of its drinking water in April 2014. While under the control of an emergency financial manager appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder, the city moved from Lake Huron water to Flint River water that was untreated to prevent corrosion.

The failure to use corrosion control chemicals is believed to have caused lead contamination as well as an increase in cases of Legionnaires? disease. From June 2014 through October 2015, 91 people contracted the respiratory illness and 12 died.

The disease is a respiratory infection caused by Legionella bacteria. These bacteria can also cause a milder illness called Pontiac fever...

 

[Emily]

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2017/06/five_official_charged_with_man.html

[h=1]Five officials will face manslaughter charges for Flint water crisis[/h]
Updated on June 14, 2017 at 2:35 PM Posted on June 14, 2017 at 10:57 AM

By Oona Goodin-Smith
ogoodins@mlive.com

FLINT, MI - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has charged five water officials -- including a member of Gov. Rick Snyder's cabinet and a former emergency manager -- with manslaughter related to their alleged failure to act in during the Flint Water Crisis.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon, former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, former City of Flint Water Department Manager Howard Croft, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Drinking Water Chief Liane Shekter-Smith and former district supervisor Stephen Busch will all face involuntary manslaughter charges related to their alleged failure to act in the Flint Water Crisis, Schuette announced in a release on Wednesday, June 14.
Involuntary manslaughter is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and/or a $7,500 fine.
The manslaughter charges are connected to the death of Robert Skidmore, who died Dec. 13, 2015, due to the area's Legionnaires' disease outbreak....