Health & Fitness
14 Confirmed Legionnaires' Cases Being Investigated In Batavia
In a Sept. 18 release, the City of Geneva said that state and county health officials are investigating more than a dozen confirmed cases.
GENEVA, IL — The City of Geneva announced that Illinois and Kane County health officials are investigating an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease that has spread to 14 confirmed cases in nearby Batavia as of Wednesday, Sept. 18. In a release, the City said the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recently confirmed two community-based cases of the disease combined with 12 previous cases detected at Covenant Living at Holmstad in Batavia.
On Sept. 9, the Kane County Health Department said in a release that it's received reports of four more confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease at Covenant Living at the Holmstad in Batavia, just days after four residents at the retirement home were hospitalized at the end of August due to a Legionnaires's disease outbreak.
Related:
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- 4 More Legionnaires' Cases Confirmed At Batavia Retirement Home
- 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.
Find out what's happening in Genevafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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.
More information about Legionnaires' disease and updates can be found on KaneKaneHealth.com's Disease page and the Illinois Department of Public Health's website.
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