Death toll in Legionnaires' outbreak in Illinois rises to eight

[Disir]

An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease has killed an eighth person in Quincy, Illinois, and sickened 41, mostly at a veterans home, health and veterans affairs officials said on Wednesday.

The latest death occurred outside the Illinois Veterans' Home, the officials said, adding that three others were sickened in the city and six more at the veterans home, the officials said.

There was no evidence the new cases in the city were connected to the outbreak at the veterans home, Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said.

About 400 people live at the veterans home, the largest and oldest such facility in the state, said Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs spokesman Ryan Yantis.

The outbreak in Quincy, about 240 miles southwest of Chicago, follows recent outbreaks of the respiratory illness that killed a dozen people in New York City and sickened inmates at a California prison.

Legionnaires' is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling mist infected with the bacteria Legionella. Symptoms include fever, cough, chills and muscle aches.
Death toll in Legionnaires' outbreak in Illinois rises to eight

So, this is the battle of the season.

 

[Moonglow]

You would think they would clean their AC systems , ducts included, it's cheaper than being sued...

 

[waltky]

If ya go to Flint, Mich. bring yer own water...

Legionnaires' spike in Michigan county dealing with water crisis
13 Jan.`16 - The Michigan county already reeling from lead-contaminated drinking water in the city of Flint has seen a spike of Legionnaires' disease resulting in 10 deaths that may or may not be related to the water crisis, officials said on Wednesday.

Genesee County, which includes Flint, had 87 cases of Legionnaires' from June 2014 to November 2015. State officials told a news conference they could not conclude that the increase was due to a switch in the source of Flint's water. "That just adds to the disaster we already are facing with respect to elevated lead levels," Governor Rick Snyder said. About half the cases were connected to Flint water and half were not, according to Nick Lyon, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Legionnaires is a type of pneumonia caused by inhaling mist infected with the bacteria Legionella. The mist may come from air-conditioning units for large buildings, hot tubs or showers.

Michigan National Guard Staff Sergeant William Phillips (L) assists a Flint resident with bottled water at a fire station in Flint, Michigan​

Genesee County and Michigan health departments are investigating the increase as are the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Snyder said. Snyder called in Michigan National Guard troops, who arrived on Wednesday to help distribute bottled water, water filters, testing kits and other supplies to Flint residents. The governor, who has been accused of waiting too long to intervene in the crisis, also requested support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has appointed a disaster recovery coordinator to help Michigan. Financially strapped Flint was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager when it switched its source of tap water to the nearby Flint River in April 2014 from Detroit's water system 60 miles (100 km) to the southeast to save money.

The top of a water tower is seen at the Flint Water Plant in Flint, Michigan​

Flint returned to the Detroit water system in October after tests found some children had elevated levels of lead in their blood and lead was found in higher-than-acceptable levels in the water. The city said in December lead levels remained well above acceptable levels. Snyder has apologized for the state's mishandling of the situation and declared a state of emergency in Genesee County to bring in additional state resources. Last week, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit said it was investigating the lead contamination of Flint's water. Flint residents have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the city and state of endangering their health.

Legionnaires' spike in Michigan county dealing with water crisis