Potentially Deadly Legionella Bacteria Discovered Again in Illinois

Oct. 22, 2012 - PRLog -- Just a few months ago, a number of people developed Legionnaires’ disease after staying at a downtown Chicago hotel.  Tragically several of the infected people died.  Earlier this month, reports surfaced that the same bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease had been discovered at three Batavia schools.

Alice Gustafson, Hoover-Wood and Batavia High School were recently closed for a weekend so that crews could disinfect the water systems.  The bacteria were discovered at several bathroom faucets and on a shower head in a locker room.   The discovery was made during a proactive environmental assessment and no known cases of the disease have been reported.

Legionnaires' disease is caused by a type of bacteria known as Legionella.  Infected individuals can have symptoms similar to many other forms of pneumonia which can make it hard to diagnose at first. Signs of the disease may include a high fever, chills, and a cough. Some people may also suffer from muscle aches and headaches.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment, usually in water. The bacteria grow best in warm water, like the kind found in hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, or parts of the air-conditioning systems of large buildings.”

Ed Chambers, President of EC2, Inc., is one of the leading Legionella experts in the Midwest.  When asked about the discovery of the bacteria at the Batavia schools he reported the following, “Each year, between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease in our country. More cases are typically discovered in the summer and early fall.  The condition can lead to death in up to 5 to 30% of the cases so it’s important to be proactive in monitoring water systems as appears to be the case in Batavia.  Legionella bacteria can be identified by testing building water sources and this simple step can help prevent outbreaks and tragic deaths.”

EC2 has sponsored an educational video about Legionella and Legionnaires’ disease.  It can be seen at:
http://youtu.be/HB7g81JxCq0



To learn more about Legionella, indoor air quality (IAQ) or other environmental issues, please visit http://www.4ec2inc.com, email info@4ec2inc.com or call (815) 703-9000.

About EC2, Inc.
EC2 is a leading provider of environmental consulting and inspection services for clients across the United States.  Based in the Chicago area, the company provides their services to clients ranging from local companies and institutions to international Fortune 500 Corporations.