|
|
Posted: Monday, 09 November 2009 1:25PM
Two deaths tied to Legionnaires' disease
|
VERNON HILLS, Ill. (STNG) -- Public health authorities are investigating an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease associated with two deaths at The Park in north suburban Vernon Hills, a retirement community.
"We're taking every precaution and doing everything we can," said Jane Woloson, The Park's executive director.
The bacterial disease has spread to enough residents to qualify as an outbreak, Lake County Health Department spokeswoman Leslie Piotrowski said Sunday. There are four laboratory-confirmed cases, seven probable cases, and several more cases of pneumonia, she said.
"So far, it's limited to the facility. We have notified primary care providers who care for senior citizens in Vernon Hills as a precaution," Piotrowski said.
Meanwhile, the department has targeted The Park's rainforest atrium as a possible source of the bacteria, Legionella pneumophila. The Park has shut it down at the department's recommendation, Piotrowski said.
"There hasn't been an outbreak like this in Lake County in at least a decade," she said.
Legionnaires' disease is a bacterial pneumonia that is spread by inhaling aerosols or mists of water containing the bacteria. It is not spread from person to person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Legionella causes death in five to 30 percent of cases. Each year, 8,000 to 18,000 people in the United States are hospitalized with the disease. Many infections are not diagnosed or reported, so the number may be higher, according to the CDC.
The disease can lead to life-threatening complications such as pneumonia, respiratory and kidney failure, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, pneumonia, fever, chills and body aches appear two to ten days after coming into contact with the bacteria. Smokers and people 65 and older are at risk for the disease.
The average resident at The Park is 83, Woloson said.
The two fatalities related to Legionella had other underlying medical conditions. They were also in their 80s, Piotrowski said. Although their names were not released, Piotrowski said one person died of pneumonia the second person died of a pneumonia-like illness.
The first death occurred in September and the second occurred last week, Piotrowski reported.
"The second case triggered a more extensive investigation," Piotrowski said.
"The fact that the potential cause (the atrium) has been shut down at this time, we don't believe there's an increased risk to the population there now," Piotrowski said.
The 250 residents have been informed of the situation there and were advised to take baths, she said.
Since the bacterium grows in warm water, all sources of water at The Park are being investigated.
"We're doing everything we can do to find the bacteria," Woloson said.
The Park is working with the Health Department, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC, Woloson said. In addition, The Park hired a Naperville-based company that specializes in water to determine the source of the bacteria.
"I would say people are concerned and not panicked. We're going about our business as usual," Woloson said. "We're doing the best we can with communication. As we learn more, we're telling the staff to tell the residents."
The Park has set up an information line limited to staff, residents and their families. However, she said she would be happy to provide the hot line number to people with a connection to The Park.
|
Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
|
|
|
E-Mail Story
Print Story
