Legionnaires' Cases Reported In Algonquin, Crystal Lake

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL – Nine McHenry County residents have fallen ill with Legionnaires disease in recent weeks and local health officials are are continuing to investigate if there is connection between any of the cases, Keri Zaleski, Community Information Coordinator for the McHenry County Department of Health, told Patch Thursday. Local health officials said the people who fell ill with the disease, which is a severe form of pneumonia caused by a bacterium known as legionella, range in age from 46 to 82 years old. They live in Union, Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Huntley and Wonder Lake and were diagnosed with illness between June 7 and July 1.

“We are working with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the investigation is ongoing,” she said in an email response earlier in the week. As of Thursday, local officials continued to investigate any link and had also been in touch with the Center for Disease Control regarding the investigation.

Occurring more frequently in hot humid weather, Legionnaires’ disease is caused by a type of bacteria commonly found in the environment and is transmitted by aerosolization, which means you can become ill by breathing in a mist or vapor contaminated with the bacteria.

Legionella bacteria is found naturally in freshwater environments like lakes and streams. It can become a health concern when it is found in building water systems such as shower heads, hot tubs, fountains, hot water tanks and large plumbing systems.

Health officials are urging anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to the Legionolla bacteria and are experiencing symptoms to contact their health care provider.

Legionnaire’s Disease symptoms typically begin two to 10 days after exposure and can include muscle aches, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. Shortness of breath, coughing, headache, or mental confusion can also be common.

"Legionnaires’ disease is not known to spread person to person,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Chief Medical Officer Jennifer Layden. “Most healthy people do not get Legionnaires’ disease after being exposed to Legionella bacteria. Individuals at increased risk of developing Legionnaire’s disease include those older than 50 years of age, or who have certain risk factors, such as being a current or former smoker, having a chronic disease, or having a weakened immune system."

More information on Legionnaires Disease can be found on the CDC website.

PHOTO VIA SHUTTERSTOCK