Source: http://www.hngn.com, September 24, 2015
By: Jelani James

Concerns about Legionnaires’ Disease is on the rise in Chicago after three schools found traces of the disease-causing bacteria in its cooling towers.

Following in New York City’s footsteps, a school district in Illinois is now facing it’s own outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease. Legionella, the bacteria that causes the disease, was detected at three schools prompting an immediate evacuation from the school grounds.
During it’s annual air quality testing of the cooling towers, the school district in Elgin, Ill. detected the bacteria in at Eastview Middle, Larkin High, and at its Central Office/Gifford Street High facility, according to USA Today.
After the bacteria was discovered, all the students, faculty and staff from each of the three schools were evacuated.
“I made the decision to close these buildings immediately,” District U-46 CEO Tony Sanders said in a message to parents on the school district Facebook page.
As reported by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, the disease is caused by the bacteria Legionella that can be found in various plumbing systems. It is spread by breathing in mist from water but can’t be spread from person to person. While the illness is usually found in the summer and early fall, it can occur at any time of the year.
Concerns about the outbreak in Illinois have been on the rise after 12 residents of the Illinois Veterans’ Home-Quincy home died from the disease the last month. Dozens of other home residents have contracted the disease.
In light of this, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has called for an investigation into the state’s response to the veterans’ home incident to ensure proper steps are taken to avoid another outbreak in the future.