Gov. Bruce Rauner visits the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy a day after state officials reported two residents have new cases of Legionnaires’ disease.
Governor Bruce Rauner visited the Quincy Veterans Home this morning after two cases of Legionnaires’ disease were confirmed in residents of the Quincy home less than a month after a nearly $5 million water treatment plant and delivery system was unveiled at the facility. The new water treatment and delivery system was a response to the 53 VA residents being sickened by Legionaire’s disease last year, 12 of those sickened died.
Federal officials have previously said the bacteria that cause the disease were likely spread by an aging water system at the 129-year-old facility.
Rauner’s office released a statement today saying that “the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) is working with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Adams County Health Department, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to determine where the residents acquired the Legionella bacteria. Due to the nature of the bacteria, the source may never be determined, but the Quincy home is taking all precautions to ensure the safety and welfare of residents and staff.
“Our first priority is making sure that we are providing the safest conditions possible for our veterans. Last year we took extensive steps to create a new water treatment facility to reduce the bacteria, but even with these steps there is a chance of contagion due to the bacteria itself,” said Governor Rauner. “Upon learning about the potential of Legionnaires’ at Quincy this week, I instructed all of our state agencies to take the utmost caution to protect our residents and staff at the home. We continue to do everything possible to further mitigate any further contamination.”
In order to be infected with Legionella bacteria, a person must inhale contaminated water vapor. The bacteria thrives in warm water, and contaminated sources can include showers, faucets, hot tubs and cooling towers. It is important to note that Legionnaires’ disease, in general, cannot be transmitted person-to-person. Most of the time Legionella bacteria does not cause harm, but the bacteria poses a larger threat to those with impaired immune systems and the elderly.
