Chicago officials investigating 2 cases of legionnaires linked to a hotel

CHICAGO (WLS) –

The Chicago Department of Public Health is investigating two confirmed cases of Legionnaires' Disease whose only commonality is that both people have stayed in the same downtown hotel.

The authorities stated that both cases had been confirmed by a laboratory and that both patients had been treated and recovered.

The authorities said the two people had stayed at the Embassy Suites hotel, located at 600 North State Street, in the River North neighborhood.

It is unclear whether the Embassy Suites was the source of the bacteria causing the disease, and water samples were taken at the hotel, officials said.

The hotel cooperates fully with the investigation and officials said that there was no immediate risk to the public. They notify thousands of guests who stayed there from early August to early September about these two cases.

"We have been working very closely with this hotel since we heard about it, and they have taken appropriate action and closed down all potential sources of this bacteria," said Dr. Julie Morita, Chicago Public Health Department.

A guest said he was not informed about the illness or tests during the registration.

In a statement, Embassy Suites said, "Our primary concern is always the safety and well-being of our customers and employees. We work closely with the city and take all appropriate measures as directed.

On the recommendation of the Department of Health, the hotel has closed all its water facilities, including the pool, during the tests and undertakes a complete disinfection.

Legionnaire's disease is a type of pneumonia contracted by inhalation of aerosolized water containing Legionella bacteria. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath and they usually appear within two weeks of infection.