EMT Danny Casey, 9/11 responder, dies at 48 from toxic-dust-linked illness

EMT Danny Casey, a 9/11 responder, died in September 2025 at 48 from autoimmune encephalitis linked to toxic dust.

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from the fact record

Stands on 8 placed sources from 2 publishers.

EMT Danny Casey, who responded to Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, died in September 2025 at age 48. ^[1] Nicole Casey, Danny's wife, said that Danny was treated for autoimmune encephalitis after experiencing seizures in the summer of 2021. ^[2] The National Institutes of Health says people exposed to the toxic dust cloud faced double the risk of developing a systemic autoimmune disease. ^[3] The World Trade Center Health Program covers cancer, respiratory conditions, digestive disorders, and mental health conditions, but not autoimmune diseases. ^[4] As of June 2026, just over 57,000 responders and survivors are certified by the World Trade Center Health Program with cancers related to 9/11. ^[5] John Feal, a severely injured 9/11 responder and advocate, lobbied for legislation to fix the funding formula for the World Trade Center Health Program, and without the adjustments the program would have reportedly had to stop taking new patients in 2028. ^[6] More people have now died related to exposures to toxic dust at Ground Zero than died in the attacks themselves. ^[7] The founders of the 9/11 Responders Remembered Park in Nesconset, Long Island, claim it is the first space in the country honoring responders whose lives were cut short from illnesses linked to their work at Ground Zero. ^[8]

What this stands on

EMT Danny Casey, who responded to Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, died in September 2025 at age 48. · WJHG

Nicole Casey, Danny's wife, said that Danny was treated for autoimmune encephalitis after experiencing seizures in the summer of 2021. · WJHG

The National Institutes of Health says people exposed to the toxic dust cloud faced double the risk of developing a systemic autoimmune disease. · WJHG

The World Trade Center Health Program covers cancer, respiratory conditions, digestive disorders, and mental health conditions, but not autoimmune diseases. · WJHG

As of June 2026, just over 57,000 responders and survivors are certified by the World Trade Center Health Program with cancers related to 9/11. · Mother Jones

John Feal, a severely injured 9/11 responder and advocate, lobbied for legislation to fix the funding formula for the World Trade Center Health Program, and without the adjustments the program would have reportedly had to stop taking new patients in 2028. · Mother Jones

More people have now died related to exposures to toxic dust at Ground Zero than died in the attacks themselves. · Mother Jones

The founders of the 9/11 Responders Remembered Park in Nesconset, Long Island, claim it is the first space in the country honoring responders whose lives were cut short from illnesses linked to their work at Ground Zero. · Mother Jones

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