The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced on Friday that a confirmed case of Legionnaires' Disease has been diagnosed in an Adams County resident. That county is where the Quincy Veteran's Home, which had a Legionnaires' outbreak last fall, is located. That outbreak in August and September 2015, sickened 45 people and killed twelve. Most of those who were sickened lived or worked at the Veteran's Home. The buildings at that facility are old, but officials replaced the water system after that outbreak, and they added a new water treatment facility that provides thermal and chemical treatments to control bacteria. The water systems in older buildings are more likely to harbor legionella bacteria. The bacteria are released into the air through vapor or mist from showers, … [Read more...]
New Cases of Shigellosis in Winnebago County, Illinois
The Winnebago County Health Department in Illinois is reporting additional cases of Shigellosis in the area, bring the new total to 152 since October 2015. Most of these cases have affected children in daycare and elementary schools. Shigellosis is a diarrheal illness that causes diarrhea that can be bloody, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. Symptoms usually begin one to day days after exposure to the pathogenic bacteria, which is very infectious. The illness is spread by contaminated hands touching food or drink or your mouth. Surfaces such as toys, bathroom fixtures, diaper pails, and changing tables can become contaminated by feces from an infected person. The epidemiologic curve has slowed. The peak of the outbreak was in late November 2015 to late December 2015. No one source … [Read more...]
Illinois Veterans Home Replaces Water System after Legionnaires Outbreak
The Illinois Veterans Home, where a deadly Legionnaires' outbreak killed 12 people is replacing its water system and making repairs. Last August and September, at least 45 people living at that facility were sickened and 12 people died after contracting the illness. Legionnaires' Disease bacteria, also called Legionella, lives and grows in water systems, especially in older buildings. The bacteria is hard to kill and can thrive for years in a system until an outbreak occurs. The bacteria is released in vapor or mist from showers, fountains, air conditioning units, cooling towers, HVAC units, hot tubs, and other water systems. When people, especially those in high risk groups, breathe in the vapor, they can get sick. Anyone who is over the age of 50, who has underlying health problems … [Read more...]
Apple Cider Outbreak in Pike County, IL Grows to 70 Sick
The food poisoning outbreak linked to apple cider consumed and sold at the Pike County Fall Color Drive in Illinois on October 17 and 18, 2015 has grown to include at least 70 people as of November 6, 2015. Adams and Pike County Health Departments are investigating the outbreak. Those sickened drank apple cider from vendors at several different locations during the event. Those sickened have been experiencing diarrhea, cramping, and vomiting. Case patients range in age from less than one year to 89 years old. Several people have been hospitalized because their illnesses have been so serious. The illness onset rates in this outbreak range from October 18 through November 4, 2015. New illnesses are being reported daily, according to public health officials. Symptoms include profuse … [Read more...]
Cryptosporidium Outbreak in Pike County, IL Linked to Apple Cider
A cryptosporidium outbreak in Pike County, Illinois has sickened at least 30 people, according to the Pike County Health Department. The initial announcement stated that the outbreak pathogen had not yet been identified, and directed health care providers to test patients for both E. coli and Cryptosporidium. Those sickened attended the Pike County Fall Color Drive on October 17 and 18, 2015 in Barry, Illinois. This event is a large fall festival that spans several communities in the county. Patients who have been sick consumed apple cider from vendors at two locations. News reports have identified the outbreak as cryptosporidiosis, and the symptoms mentioned in the press release from Pike County are those of cryptosporidiosis. Symptoms of those sickened include profuse and … [Read more...]
Senator Asks for Investigation into Quincy IL Legionnaires’ Outbreak
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has asked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to investigate that the Quincy Illinois Veterans' Home is taking the proper steps in the deadly Legionnaires' outbreak. Fifty-four people have been sickened with Legionnaires' Disease in that part of the state, and 13 people have died, including one person who was not living at the Veterans' Home. The Illinois Department of Public Health just released an update on this outbreak. Durbin wrote, "The Illinois Veterans' Home-Quincy is the largest and oldest veterans' home in Illinois, providing long-term care for veterans and their families since its inception in 1886. However, the size of the campus and the age of its infrastructure and plumbing have made it … [Read more...]
Two More Dead in Quincy Veterans’ Home Legionnaires’ Outbreak
Two more people have died in the Legionnaires' Disease outbreak at the Quincy, Illinois Veterans' Home, according to the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs. Since the outbreak began last month, the number of people who have died is twelve, including one person who did not live at that facility. At least 45 more people, including five workers, are also ill at the Veterans' Home. Those who died had underlying health problems. No new cases have been reported since the last update. Public health officials do not know where the bacteria were growing. They continue to investigate the outbreak and are taking environmental tests. Lab results are pending. Legionnaires' Disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria, which grows in warm water. In large outbreaks, evaporative condensers, … [Read more...]
More Sick in Quincy Veterans’ Home Legionnaries’ Outbreak
The Illinois Department of Public Health reports today that there are 53 people sickened in the Legionnaires' Disease outbreak at the Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy. Nine people have died. Legionnaires' Disease is a severe type of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria. This bacteria grows in warm water systems, especially in large buildings. Cooling towers, hot water tanks, whirlpool spas, evaporative condensers, showers, plumbing systems, and fountains are commonly contaminated with this bacteria. The bacteria leaves the building, plumbing, towers, or fountains in the form of mist. When it is inhaled into the lungs, it can cause the illness. Legionnaires' Disease is not transmitted person-to-person, unlike ordinary pneumonia. The incubation period of this disease is … [Read more...]
Another Death from Legionnaires’ Disease in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a news release stating that another person has died from Legionnaires' Disease in Quincy. Four new cases of the illness have also been reported. These cases are not related to the Legionnaires' Disease outbreak at the Quincy Veterans' Home, according to public officials. The Adams County Health Department Administrator Jerrod Welch said in a statement, "as part of our investigation of the Legionnaires' Disease outbreak at the Illinois Veterans' Home-Quincy, we asked our local health care providers to help us with surveillance of the disease and test individuals in the community who have symptoms related to Legionnaires' Disease. We have thoroughly investigated each confirmed case for a connection with the outbreak, as well as any … [Read more...]
Seven Have Died in Quincy IL Veterans Home Legionnaires’ Outbreak
The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that as of Tuesday, September 1, 2015, seven people have died in the Legionnaires' Disease outbreak at the Veterans Home in Quincy. At least 39 people are sickened in that outbreak. That is an increase of three deaths and 10 more cases since the weekend. Legionella bacteria causes Legionnaires' Disease. It grows in warm water systems, such as cooling towers, fountains, and the plumbing systems of large buildings. The bacteria causes the illness when it is inhaled in mist or vapor. People can also aspirate contaminated water; it gets into the lungs and causes this pneumonia-like illness. This disease is not transmitted person-to-person. The incubation period of Legionnaries' Disease is two to fourteen days, but most often about five … [Read more...]
