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Flint water crisis investigation turning towards spike in Legionnaires' disease cases

Posted at 5:53 PM, Aug 17, 2016
and last updated 2021-01-14 15:59:23-05

The investigation into the Flint water crisis could soon take a much more serious turn with more serious charges.

One possible aspect of the crisis caused a dozen people to die, by contracting Legionnaires’ disease.

So far we’ve seen 9 officials charged with misconduct in office and willful neglect of duty for failing to warn people about the crisis.

When the Michigan Attorney General started his investigation back in January, his team said involuntary manslaughter charges were possible.

But at the same time, a link has to be established that Legionnaires was caused by tainted water in Flint.

It was back in January that Governor Rick Snyder and state health department officials made the shocking announcement that the water crisis may be deadly.

They finally revealed publicly that 12 people had died and dozens others sickened by Legionnaires’ disease during 2014 and 2015.

That is when Flint switched off Detroit water to the Flint River to save money.

The river caused lead from pipes to leach into drinking water. It is most harmful to kids under 6-years-old plus vulnerable adults. And it can be passed onto future generations.

And there were numerous other problems that came out in the water including e-coli.

So far 8 state officials and 1 local Flint official have been charged.

But this investigation is far from over.

Investigators will not say when more charges could be issued.

Flint water quality is improving with fewer cases of high lead levels, but the all clear has not been given. The water in Flint is still not safe to drink. And it is not known when it will be.