Class-Action Lawsuit Request Filed after Legionnaire’s Disease Outbreak in Quebec City

Last week, CBC News published an article about the launching of a class-action lawsuit from the families of people who lost a loved one or became ill during the 2012 Legionnaire’s disease outbreak in Quebec City. According to the article, 14 people died and over 180 others had become ill from the bacteria found to be in the cooling tower of a downtown office building.

Legionnaires’ disease is a very serious form of pneumonia that has a high fatality rate especially in people with existing immunosuppression.  If the disease can be successfully eliminated with the proper antibiotics, there are oftentimes long-term health effects such as extreme fatigue and cognitive impairment.
 
Legionella bacteria are found in natural and artificially hydrated environments.  Legionella pneumophila is responsible for about 80% of human cases of infection.  Of the infections caused by Legionella pneumophila, 90% of those infections are caused by Legionella pneumophila serotype 1. Another 20% of cases are from species other than Legionella pneumophila such as Legionella longbeachae and Legionella micdadei.
 
“In addition to EMSL’s Toronto laboratory that offers Legionella testing by culture, we will be adding Legionella testing at our Montreal location shortly,” said Diane Miskowski, MPH, Legionella Program Manager at EMSL Analytical, Inc.  “EMSL currently has six CDC ELITE laboratories throughout the United States. We also provide molecular testing using DNA sequencing to determine rare species and Multi Locus Sequence Typing to distinguish between strains of L. pneumophila serotype 1.”
 
To learn more about Legionella and microbial pathogen testing services, please also visit www.LegionellaTesting.com or www.emslcanada.ca, email info@EMSL.com or call (800) 220-3675. To contact Diane Miskowski directly, please call 1-800-220-3675 extension 2528.
 
About EMSL Canada, Inc.
EMSL Canada is an internationally recognized provider of environmental, indoor air quality and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies. 
 

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Joseph Frasca

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EMSL Canada, Inc.

(1) (856) 303-2503

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