4 More Legionnaires' Cases Confirmed At Batavia Retirement Home

BATAVIA, IL — The Kane County Health Department said in a release Monday it's received reports of four more confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease at Covenant Living at the Holmstad in Batavia, less than two weeks after four residents at the retirement home were hospitalized due to a Legionnaires's disease outbreak.

“Two cases were reported to us this week, we received word of an early-onset case from mid August and an additional case reported this past Saturday,” said Kane County Health Department
Executive Director Barbara Jeffers, in a release. “We are working closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health and Covenant Living to monitor this situation.”

According to the release, Covenant Living has kept residents and employees informed of the
situation since initial reports came out, and has been collaborating with both the state and county on "proactive measures" underway at retirement home.

According to Amanda Gosnell, Covenant Living at the Holmstad executive director, the senior living community continues to collaborate closely with and follow all recommendations of water management experts, and state and Kane County health departments. Gosnell also said they continue to welcome visitors and maintain regular operations under their advisement.

“Water testing results are still pending with IDPH to determine if there is a source of legionella bacteria on the Holmstad campus," Gosnell added, in the release. "However, because the safety of our residents, guests, and employees is our top priority, we have proactively and aggressively moved forward with several of the measures that could potentially be advised in the event of a positive result."

Related: Legionnaires' Outbreak Reported at Batavia Retirement Home

Legionnaires' disease is a serious lung infection that people can get by breathing in small droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria. Outbreaks are most commonly associated with buildings or structures that have complex water systems, like hotels, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and cruise ships.

The bacterium can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made water systems, like hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, and decorative fountains, according to a news release from the health department.

Most healthy people do not get Legionnaires' disease after being exposed to Legionella bacteria.

People over the age of 50 years old are at increased risk for contracting Legionnaires' disease. Those who have certain risk factors, such as being a current or former smoker, having a chronic disease, or having a weakened immune system also are susceptible to the disease.

In 2018, there were 512 cases of Legionnaires' disease throughout the state while at the end of last month, there had been 251 cases confirmed so far this year, according to health officials.

More information about Legionnaires’ disease and updates can be found on KaneKaneHealth.com's Disease page.