Governor Rauner Visits the Illinois Veterans Home

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner toured the Illinois Veterans Home Wednesday morning in the wake of The discovery of two cases of Legionnaire’s Disease this week.
Rauner and Erica Jeffries of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and Dr. Nirav Shah of the Illinois Department of Public Health were also on hand…. Dr. Shah says Legionnaires Disease is pneumonia caused by bacteria and is contracted by breathing water vapor containing the bacteria. Dr. Shah says the two people with Legionnaire’s Disease are back at the Illinois Veterans Home following hospitalization. The two residents lived in different areas of the Illinois Veterans Home. Dr. Shah says some other residents are being watched for signs of pneumonia and Legionnaire's Disease.

An outbreak of the disease last summer at the Illinois Veterans Home resulted in twelve deaths. 54 residents and staff also became ill. That outbreak resulted in extensive work on the water system at the 130 year old facility.