Legionnaires' Outbreak Reported at Batavia Retirement Home

KANE COUNTY, IL —Four residents at a Batavia retirement community have been hospitalized following a Legionnaires' disease outbreak. Kane County Department of Health officials are working to figure out the source of the outbreak at Covenant Living at the Homstad, Barbara Jeffers, the Kane County Health Department's executive director, said in a news release.

Health officials learned of the outbreak late Thursday night. Health officials did not know if the residents were still hospitalized as of Saturday, health officials told the Daily Herald.

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 there have been 251 cases confirmed so far this year, according to health officials.