(CREDIT: Google Maps)

The Kane County Health Department has been informed of another case of Legionnaires’ disease at Covenant Living at the Holmstad.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports another confirmed case as of Monday (Sept. 30, 2019). There have been 15 total confirmed cases: 13 at Covenant Living at the Holmstad and two additional cases – one resident of Geneva and one resident of Batavia, within one-half mile of the facility.

Based on the available epidemiologic information, the initial environmental assessments were focused on Covenant Care’s building water systems, cooling tower, and other potential sources on campus. As additional Covenant residents and the two off-site residents were confirmed to have Legionnaires’ disease, IDPH and KCHD expanded their search for possible sources.

An environmental assessment was conducted at each of the identified off-site cooling towers and equipment used on the Fabyan Parkway Bridge construction project. The Fabyan Parkway project did not test positive for Legionella.

Results of environmental testing identified Legionella bacteria on Covenant Care’s campus and an off-site cooling tower not associated with Covenant Living.

The cooling tower that tested positive for Legionella has been shut down, and mitigation procedures have been instituted. Legionella control measures have been implemented at all known possible sources of exposure identified by IDPH and KCHD at both Covenant Living and off-site.

A definitive source of Legionella is rarely determined through environmental investigation, the Health Department said. Rather, potential and possible sources of exposure are identified and investigated. Legionella control measures are then implemented to stop further exposure and disease.

In order to confirm the actual cause, a lower respiratory specimen from an ill case (which is difficult to obtain) would need to closely match genetically an environmental sample, testing positive by culture for Legionella, using specialized laboratory testing performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For that reason, public health focuses on identifying any and all possible sources and implementing activities to control measures, such as disinfection procedures, filters, and restricted water.

The Health Department said it is important to note that the existence of Legionella bacteria in and of itself is common and is not always a public health concern, but it is typically in cases where the bacteria a able to grow and become what public health officials refer to as “cultured” that can lead to the infection of humans resulting in symptoms.

The public water supplies of both the cities of Batavia and Geneva are not compromised by this Legionella outbreak. Each city maintains levels of chlorine that meet or exceed that required by the regulations of the state of Illinois to ensure the water is free from Legionella bacteria.

For more information about Legionella, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/about/causes-transmission.html

For further information and updates, visit the KCHD website at KaneHealth.com.

On-Site Cooling Tower Had Been Cleared

A Friday (Sept. 27, 2019) news release from Covenant Living at the Holmstad had reported no new cases of Legionnaires’ Disease at the senior-care facility since Sept. 5.

The Illinois Department of Public Health sampling results from the Covenant Care cooling tower said living Legionella was not detected at that time, which mirrored results from water management consultants that also did testing, according to Brandon Gross, Legionella Specialist with Earthwise.

(CREDIT: Google Maps)

“Cooling towers are investigated during Legionella outbreaks because of their potential to aerosolize large amounts of water that can be widely dispersed. However, for these droplets to pose any risk of Legionella infection, they require that the cooling tower contain virulent strains of Legionella bacteria,” Gross said.

Gross had said that because multiple culture tests of the cooling tower water at the Holmstad found no sign of viable Legionella pneumophilia bacteria, it suggested that “the ongoing disinfection program for the cooling tower has been, and continues to be, mitigating the risk of Legionella growth.”

Amanda Gosnell, Covenant Living executive director, said resident have held up well through the stress of the past few weeks.

“Residents have supported each other with love and prayers, team members have made personal sacrifices to go above and beyond in our efforts to ensure resident safety, and the broader Batavia community has stood beside us,” she added.

Gosnell said all physical areas of the property are open for use with no restricted access and guests are welcomed without limitation.

According to the Covenant Care news release, Holmstad residents have been fully informed along the way.

“The administration has kept us informed verbally, as well as on paper, of the many things they are doing to assure us and the public that the Holmstad is a clean and safe environment,” said Chuck Taylor, Holmstad resident. “They’ve fully cooperated with the state and county officials and went above and beyond their instructions to try to find the source of the bacteria.”

SOURCE: Kane County Health Department, Covenant Care at The Holmstad news releases

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