[ad_1]
Health officials have identified two new clusters in Legionnaires' disease in Illinois.The cases have been traced back to a Walmart in suburban Johnsburg and the Warren Barr South Loop nursing home in Chicago, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said on Friday. Legionnaires' is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets containing legionella bacteria and, when left untreated, can cause fatal neurological complications.Authorities have determined the clusters are not connected, but they are trying to identify the total number of people who may have been exposed. The news comes just a month after a wedding is being investigated as a possible source of a legionnaires' outbreak that sickened after six residents in Champaign County in central Illinois. Three people who said they shopped at Walmart in Johnsburg (pictured) were diagnosed with Legionnaires 'diseaseAccording to Patch, the Walmart in Johnsburg was identified as the site of the first cluster after public health officials saw a slight increase in cases of Legionnaires' in September. Three people who said they have been diagnosed with the lung infection.Meanwhile, two residents at Warren Barr tested positive for the disease. Shawn Estoque, who has been living at home since June, told WGN 9 that he saw signs telling residents not to use water for bathing. However, this is not a question of having to inform the other residents about the Legionnaires 'interviews. The first time I'm hearing this, from you guys,' he said. I knew we could not use the water. I did not know it was so serious.'A spokesperson told the station that the nursing home will be distributed throughout the facility. Other diseases that are transmitted by person-to-person contact, sufferers by bacteria. The bacteria can multiply in places such as hot tubs, water tanks and large plumbing systems.Symptoms develop between two and 10 days after inhaling legionella bacteria. The disease typically begins with a headache, chills, high fever, and muscle pain.On the second or third day, symptoms progress to coughing, chest pain, trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The second cluster was identified at the Warren Barr South Loop nursing home in Chicago, where two residents were diagnosed with the diseaseAround 10,000 and 18,000 Americans were infected each year, with 300 of those being ill. Most people recover with antibiotics, but those with weakened immune systems or who have chronic lung diseases can form fatal neurological complications that can be fatal. IDPH is currently investigating a few outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease. The first occurred last month after six residents of Champaign County were diagnosed.Health officials are trying to pinpoint the source of the outbreak, including a church where the patients attended a wedding.The second case is at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, where a 2015 outbreak of the disease 14 people and sickened dozens more.
Original Article can be found here
Source link
