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An epidemic of legionellosis has spread beyond the elderly community of Batavia and two other cases have been confirmed in the surrounding area.
Public health officials have warned residents of Covenant Living in Holmstad, as well as those living less than two kilometers from the facility, to monitor the symptoms of respiratory illness that may result from exposure to Legionella bacteria.
Twelve people living in the retiree community at 700 W. Fabyan Parkway have been diagnosed with legionellosis since the end of August. On Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health received reports of two community cases, bringing the total to 14, the agency said in a press release.
No definitive cause has been determined, but health officials said the two new cases prompted them to test additional samples in Holmstad and within a radius of less than one kilometer from the campus. The state health department also "recommended corrective measures of suspicious sources," said agency officials.
"As the epidemiological and environmental investigation of this legionnaires' disease cluster continues, it is important to publish this information so that nearby residents are informed and seek treatment if they become symptomatic", said the director of the department of public health, Ngozi Ezike, in writing. declaration.
Angela Prusinski, who lives about three blocks from Holmstad, said she began to feel bad after a family picnic on September 1st. But with some underlying health issues and an operation in July, she thought: "
When she woke up the morning of Labor Day, she had chills, complained of muscle pains and "felt horrible," she said. "Worse than the flu."
Prusinski went to the emergency ward that night with stomach ailments and cramps, but had not yet complained of any breathing problems. After finding that her white blood cell count was high, doctors prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic and sent her home.
She returned to the hospital on September 7 knowing that "something was wrong," Prusinski said. Tests revealed high blood pressure and high resting heart rate. The doctors then discovered bacterial pneumonia in the left lung.
Prusinski had further tests and was sent home on 10 September. Two days later, she received a call from the Kane County Disease Control and Prevention Centers and Health Department who informed her of legionellosis.
Severe lung infection is not transmitted from person to person, but is contracted after breathing small water droplets containing Legionella bacteria, according to the state's Department of Health. Outbreaks are typically associated with structures with complex water systems, such as hotels, hospitals, long-term care facilities or cruise ships.
Util Onwuta, director of disease prevention at the Kane County Health Department, said that Covenant Living was implementing several measures on the Holmstad campus to mitigate potential bacteria, including rinsing the skin. water, installing filters and cleaning cooling towers. Both cases outside the retirement home are included in the outbreak because of the proximity, she said, pointing out that the water droplets through which Legionella spreads can move on about a kilometer.
Most healthy people do not contract legionnaires' disease after exposure, Onwuta explained. People at higher risk of infection include, among other factors, people aged 50 and older, current or former smokers, patients with chronic illness or those with weakened immune systems .
Symptoms usually take up to two weeks to develop, health officials said. Early signs include high fever, chills, muscle aches, coughing, and shortness of breath.
People with similar symptoms are encouraged to seek immediate medical attention and local clinicians are encouraged to test patients with suspected pneumonia of Legionnaires' disease.
"The (health departments) and Holmstad are working together to make sure we identify the source of the contamination and implement the right intervention to see the end of the outbreak," Onwuta said. "Nobody wants to see this epidemic end more than these three (agencies)."
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