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A cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases has been reported in the southwest suburbs, with many of the cases linked to an area church, public health officials said Friday.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is working with the Stickney Public Health District to investigate a cluster of cases reported in Burbank between June and August.
Four cases are linked to St. Albert the Great – three epidemiologically and one geographically, the Department of Health said in a statement Friday.
Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease.In the cooling tower of the church, according to the health department.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection that people get by breathing in small droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria, IDPH said.
“As the epidemiological and environmental investigation of this Legionnaires’ disease cluster continues, it is important to release this information to ensure that anyone who feels symptoms of risk factors is aware and seeks evaluation and treatment,” said Dr. Samer Vora, director of the group. Health department.
Legionnaires’ disease usually begins with a high fever, chills of 102 to 105 degrees, muscle aches, cough and shortness of breath, Vohra says.
Symptoms develop up to two weeks after exposure, according to Vohra.
Most healthy people do not get sick after being exposed to Legionella bacteria, but people over the age of 50 or those with certain risk factors, such as current or former smokers, do get sick, according to the state health department.
Last year, Illinois reported 522 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the state. So far in 2022, 277 cases have been registered.
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