Another Legionella Case Confirmed In Kane County

KANE COUNTY, IL — Another case of Legionnaires disease has been reported at Covenant Living at the Holmstad. As of Sept. 30, there have been 15 total confirmed cases of Legionella reported in Kane County.

Thirteen of those cases were reported at Covenant Living at the Holmstad. The two additional cases – one Geneva resident and one Batavia resident who both live within a half-mile from the facility — also have been diagnosed with Legionella, according to a news release.

Meanwhile, officials announced the public water supplies of both the cities of Batavia and Geneva have not been “compromised by this Legionella outbreak.” Each city maintains levels of chlorine that meet or exceed required regulations set by the state of Illinois to ensure the water is free from Legionella bacteria, according to a news release.

“Based on the available epidemiologic information, the initial environmental assessments were focused on Covenant’s building water systems, cooling tower, and other potential sources on campus,” according to the news release. “As additional Covenant residents and the two off-site residents were confirmed to have Legionnaires’ disease, IDPH and KCHD expanded their search for possible sources.”

An environmental assessment was conducted at each of the identified off-site cooling towers and equipment utilized on the Fabyan Parkway Bridge construction project. The Fabyan Parkway project did not test positive for Legionella, according to a news release from the city of Geneva.

Results of environmental testing identified Legionella bacteria on Covenant’s campus and an off-site cooling tower not associated with Covenant Living. The cooling tower that tested positive for Legionella has been shut down and mitigation procedures have been instituted, city officials said.

Legionella control measures have been implemented at all known possible sources of exposure identified by IDPH and Kane County Health Department at both Covenant Living and off-site.

A definitive source of Legionella is rarely determined through environmental investigation, according to officials. Rather, potential and possible sources of exposure are identified and investigated.

“It is important to note that the existence of Legionella bacteria in and of itself is common and is not always a public health concern, but it is typically in cases where the bacteria are able to grow and become what public health officials refer to as ‘cultured’ that can lead to the infection of humans resulting in symptoms,” according to the news release.

For more information about Legionella, visit the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention website.For further information and updates, visit the Kane County Health Department website.

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