Health officials on Sept. 12 confirmed two additional Legionnaires' cases in the surrounding community of a Batavia, Ill.-based senior living home, which reported 12 cases in late August, according to the Daily Herald.
Officials are warning residents of Covenant Living at the Holmstad and those living within a mile of the building to watch for respiratory symptoms that could stem from Legionella bacteria found in water droplets.
The bacteria is commonly found in buildings with complex water systems, such as hotels or hospitals. While the source of contamination is not yet known, the two new cases prompted health officials to test additional sources at and around the senior living facility.
"As the epidemiological and environmental investigation of this Legionnaires' disease cluster continues, it is important to release this information to ensure that nearby residents are aware and seek treatment if they become symptomatic," Ngozi Ezike, MD, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, told the Daily Herald.
Covenant Living aims to mitigate potential bacteria by flushing water, installing filters and cleaning cooling towers, Uche Onwuta, director of disease prevention at the Kane County (Ill.) Health Department, told the Daily Herald. Ms. Onwuta said people age 50 and older are at a higher risk for infection, along with smokers, individuals with weakened immune systems or patients with chronic disease.