Residents deserve better information on Legionairres’
On July 21, 1976, the American Legion opened its annual three-day convention at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia.
The threeday event coincided with the 200th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Three days after the convention ended, Legionnaire Ray Brennan, 61, died of an apparent heart attack.
Days later, Legionnaire Frank Aveni, 60, died of an apparent heart attack, which preceded the death of three other Legionnaires who attended the convention in Philadelphia.
Medical investigations determined the men had died from a severe form of pneumonia a lung disease usually caused by infection. The Mayo Clinic notes most people contact legionnaires disease from inhaling the bacteria known as Legionella.
“Older adults, smokers and people with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to legionnaires disease,” according to Mayo Clinic information.
Longevity allows for perspective and memory as memories of the Legionnaires outbreak remain fresh. Not knowing what had occurred created fear as 182 cases were discovered and 29 deaths occurred in just several weeks.
Legionnaires disease reappeared in local news last week when officials at the Alvin E. Gershen Apartments in Hamilton Twp. noted that one resident had Legionnaires.
Residents received a letter that announced the illness although state and township officials could not determine if the Legionnaires case had originated with the Klockner Road apartment complex which houses elderly residents and others with disabilities.
“While the risk of a healthy person getting sick from anything related to the building is very low, when someone gets sick we work with outside agencies to promptly review any potential environmental factors and action steps we can take to assure the complex is healthy,” a dispatched letter read.
Apartment officials explained that Legionnaires disease is “caused by breathing in small droplets of water that contain bacteria called Legionella.” They noted interaction with state and local agencies to rectify the situation then disengaged correspondence with tenants.
Gershen explained, “the risk of getting sick from a building’s water system is very low, especially for healthy people.” While that information plays well with “healthy” residents, let’s face it, extended lives usually come with medical problems.
“I’m scared,” a Gershen tenant admitted last week. “But please don’t mention my name. I don’t want any problems with the management. I’m old. I don’t want any problems.”
This woman received anonymity although it’s unfortunate that someone should be afraid about speaking the truth, especially regarding a potentially serious health event that’s being downplayed by apartment officials. Telling people not to worry connects to those prescription-pushing medical advertisements that warn about side effects.
Warning, taking this drug could cause loss of bladder control, your genitals may fall off inside your shoes and you could bleed from ears, eyes and nose. Not to worry: that which does not kill you, makes you stronger. Ahem.
“My mom left her apartment and is staying with my brother,” a daughter explained. “She did go back to get some clothes. But even then, she wore a mask. She said the apartment complex looked like a ghost town.”
While officials present correct insights about Legionnaires, dispensing accurate information regularly remains crucial to keeping residents informed. Emergencies warrant that conversations occur between oversight officials and those involved in the issues.
Gershen Apartments sent a letter on November 28 and since then there have been several phone calls made to the Klockner Road office with no response. That’s two weeks.
Tenants, relatives of people living there, deserve an update whether it’s via of another letter or through media outlets. Keeping people in the dark or pooh-poohing their concerns shows a disrespect for their lives and livelihood.
Our elderly citizens and those who live with disabilities deserve accurate information.