VERNON HILLS, IL — Three cases of Legionnaires’ disease, including one death, have been confirmed in an outbreak at Brookdale Senior Living in Vernon Hills, the Lake County Health Department reports. According to a news release from the health department, the senior living community is actively notifying residents, identified contacts of the residents and staff about the outbreak and confirmed cases.
“Since receiving the reports of Legionnaires’ disease cases late Monday, the Lake County Health Department has been working closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health and Brookdale staff to investigate potential sources of contamination and to identify individuals who may have been exposed to Legionella bacteria,” Mark Pfister, Executive Director for the Health Department, said.
According to the health department. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of severe pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, and is treatable with antibiotics. The health department added that most people who get sick need to be hospitalized but make a full recovery. However, about 1 out of 10 people who get Legionnaires’ disease will die from the infection, according to the news release.
Most healthy people do not get Legionnaires’ disease after being exposed to the bacteria, according to the health department.
“We urge any residents and visitors of the Brookdale facility who are currently experiencing pneumonia symptoms—cough, shortness of breath, headache, muscle aches and fever—to see a doctor right away for testing,” said Dr. Sana Ahmed, Medical Epidemiologist at the Lake County Health Department, said. “Early treatment of Legionnaires’ disease reduces the severity of the illness and improves your chances for recovery.”
Cases of Legionnaires’ have also been confirmed recently at nursing homes in Bolingbrook and Plainfield.
People at increased risk of getting sick include:
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According to the news release, Legionella bacteria:
There is no evidence that the Legionella bacteria are spread from person-to-person, the health department said.
According to provisional data from the Illinois Department of Public Health, 608 cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported statewide in 2019, as Legionnaires’ is a reportable disease in the state of Illinois, and cases must be reported to the local health department within seven days, the news release said. Health officials add that “timely reporting allows identification of additional cases and control of possible contaminated sources.”
More information about Legionella: cdc.gov/legionella.
For updates: Lake County Health Department