Flint Shigella Outbreak Residents of Flint, Michigan in Genesee County are experiencing an outbreak of Shigella, a bacteria that can cause diarrhea (sometimes bloody); blood, mucus, or pus in stool; fever; abdominal pain or cramping; nausea and vomiting; tenesmus (straining to have bowel movements, even when the bowel is empty); and malaise. The Genesee County Health Department believe the Flint Shigella outbreak to be connected to an a water contamination crisis in Flint that has lead to residents changing their water-usage habits, including avoiding hand washing. Hand washing is the easiest way to prevent spreading Shigella infection. SHIGELLA LAWSUIT HELP The Weinberg Law Firm is currently assisting those injured by infections related to environmental contamination, including Shigella outbreaks. For a free Shigella lawsuit evaluation, contact our law firm toll free at 1-877-934-6274. You can also contact our lawyers by submitting the Read More
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January 13, 2016: Legionnaires’ Outbreak Potentially Linked to Flint Water Crisis
After tens of thousands of residents of Flint, MI, were exposed to dangerous levels of lead through their drinking water, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced that the number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease had also increased above average. The Flint Water Crisis In an effort to balance the town’s budget, the state changed Flint’s water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. After Flint citizens’ unanswered appeals to the government to test the safety of the brown water coming from their taps, independent researchers from Virginia Tech found the water contained high amounts of lead. Upon this discovery, the state faced serious public scrutiny, and citizens of Flint faced serious potential health problems from exposure to the tainted water. Increase of Legionnaires’ Cases According to Michigan health officials, the bump in Legionnaires’ disease cases have occurred in Genessee County, Read More
Oct. 16, 2015: Evaluation Shows EPA’s Missteps in the Gold King Mine Spill
On August 5, 2015, just outside of Silverton, Colorado, an onsite project team of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inadvertently spilled 3 million gallons of acid water that flowed into rivers thought Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and the Navajo Reservation. The spill, which is categorized as a “mine blowout”, was set off while the EPA was excavating an old mine tunnel in Gold King Mine in order to assess the water within. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) “Technical Evaluation of the Gold King Mine Incident”, the EPA team underestimated the water level inside the mine, so that when they began excavation the pressure from within the mine was released, and broke the dam that held the contaminated water. The acid and sediment from within the mine then flowed downriver, leaving the water Read More
September 18, 2015: Volkswagen Receives Notice Of Violation – Alleged Failure To Comply With Clean Air Act
VW Notice of Violation – On September 18, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Notice of Violation to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America (collectively, Volkswagen) for the failure to comply with the Clean Air Act (CAA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401-7672, and its implementing regulations. The EPA’s Notice of Violation alleges that certain four-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars from model years 2009-2015 are equipped with software known as “defeat devices,” that enable the vehicles’ ability to circumvent EPA emissions standards for certain air pollutants. The use of a defeat device is a violation of the CAA. In addition, California has separately issued an In-Use Compliance letter to Volkswagen. The EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are both investigating Volkswagen’s alleged actions. Defeat Devices Can Bypass Vehicle Emissions Control Systems By equipping Read More
September 1, 2015: Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak at Illinois Veterans’ Home-Quincy Update
On September 1, 2015, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that seven residents at the Illinois Veterans’ Home-Quincy passed away after being diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. The seven residents, all of whom had underlying medical conditions, were among 39 individuals who had been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease to date. Test results are pending for other residents. In an IDPH update, Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D., indicated that the number of outbreak cases are likely to increase stating, “Unfortunately, we expect to see additional cases and possibly additional deaths because the incubation period for Legionnaires’ disease can be up to two weeks, and because patients with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of more severe illness.” The IDPH also reported that three U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Read More
August 19, 2015: Diesel Gasoline Spill on Route 287 in New Jersey
NJ Diesel Gasoline Spill – At approximately 9 a.m. on Sunday, August 16, 2015, a fuel truck overturned on Route 287 in New Jersey spilling roughly 3,500 gallons of diesel gasoline. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) anticipates that the spill will have a minimal environmental impact. NJDEP Reports On NJ Diesel Gasoline Spill NJDEP officials have stated that accident resulted in the discharge of diesel gasoline in the woodlands surrounding the scene that required additional cleanup. Larry Hajna, spokesman for the NJDEP stated that in these situations NJDEP works with the responsible party to employ private contractors in order to avoid using public funds. Reliable Carrier Inc., the responsible party has hired a contractor as of August 17, 2015 and remediation is underway. Hajna has stated that the environmental impact is currently very minimal. According to the Read More
August 13, 2015: Indiana Department of Environmental Management Monitoring Elkhart Chemical Discharge into Elkhart River
Environmental Officials Monitoring Elkhart Chemical Discharge – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is advising residents to avoid contact with the North Branch of the Elkhart River after it was learned that an unknown amount of acidic ferric chloride was released into the water by the Wolcottville Wastewater Treatment Plant on August 12, 2015. Residents should make sure that their pets and livestock do not come into contact with the water as well. According to the IDEM press release dated August 13, 2015, between 1,200 and 1,400 gallons of acidic ferric chloride was released within the treatment plant. While some of the chemical has been contained within the facility, an unknown quantity is being released with the plant’s discharge into the North Branch of the Elkhart River. The town is working to dilute the chemical. Ferric chloride (described as Read More
