According to recent reports and news coverage from June 11, 2020 Newsday article, hundreds of police officers, firefighters, emergency responders and construction workers who were exposed to the toxins in lower Manhattan nearly 19 years ago are getting sick again, and this time with Covid-19, and at a rate higher than others in their age bracket, doctors say.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have identified some groups of people at higher risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19. Unfortunately, 9/11 first responders may fall into multiple groups, and not just those to do with illnesses. Roughly 13% of 9/11 first responders are above the age of 65, one of the COVID-19 at-risk groups, according to the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).
The 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund maintains a list of all conditions covered by the fund. Ostensibly, these are all of the conditions 9/11 first responders may have that could put them at greater risk from COVID-19. The list includes but is not limited to the following illnesses:
- Aerodigestive disorders: asthma, chronic laryngitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), interstitial lung diseases, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS), chronic nasopharyngitis, chronic respiratory disorder due to fumes/vapors, etc.
- Cancers: diffuse non-Hodgkins lymphomas, follicular non-Hodgkins lymphomas, Hodgkin’s disease, leukemias, malignant immunoproliferative diseases, multiple myeloma, etc.
- Mental health conditions: adjustment disorder, acute stress disorder, depression, anxiety, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.
- Musculoskeletal disorders: low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.
It is vital that 9/11 first responders that suffer with any illness take the necessary precautions against being infected by Covid-19. To learn more about these preventions go to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
If you or someone you know have suffered an injury that you believe is related to the exposure at the 9/11 site, please feel free to contact our office at (800) 251-6990 or by email at WTC@sssfirm.com. All discussions are held in the strictest confidence and will be handled by a team well-versed in the WTCHP and VCF process.
To read Newsday’s full article:
