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Vernon Hills, Illinois: Two die of Legionnaire's, at least two others confirmed infected

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http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?glide=EH-20091109-23765-USA&cat=dis&lang=eng

Public health authorities are investigating two deaths tied to Legionnaires' disease at a retirement community in Vernon Hills, officials said. "We're taking every precaution and doing everything we can," said Jane Woloson, executive director at the Park at Vernon Hills. There are four laboratory-confirmed cases of the bacterial disease, seven probable cases, and several more cases of pneumonia, said Leslie Piotrowski, a spokeswoman for the Lake County Health Department. The two fatalities related to Legionnaires had other underlying medical conditions. One person died of pneumonia and the second person died of a pneumonia-like illness. Two people were in their 80s. The first death happened in September and the other last week, officials said. The department has targeted the Park's rainforest atrium as a possible source of the bacteria. The Park has shut it down, Piotrowski said. Legionnaires' disease is a bacterial pneumonia that is spread by inhaling aerosols or mists of water containing the bacteria.
 
Re: Vernon Hills, Illinois: Two die of Legionnaire's, at least two others confirmed infected

Interestingly, as reported in Hong Kong thread, this year number of Legionnaire's disease increased to more than 30.

In the recent past, a such number of cases have not been reported.

I wonder whether a link may exists between the increased laboratory testing performed around the world because the pandemic H1N1 2009 and the discovery of a previously unnoticed Legionnaire's disease cases.
 
Re: Vernon Hills, Illinois: Two die of Legionnaire's, at least two others confirmed infected

To me, that's the obvious conclusion. Without any lab testing, you couldn't tell the difference between a Legionella case and and H1N1 (or even H5N1 case). With no H1N1 going around in previous years, no one cared much about the agent behind such isolated cases - you just gave them antibiotics. But now they get tested to rule out H1N1, and the Legionella bacteria turns up.

I haven't seen the data, but I suspect Hong Kong also had an increase in Legionella in 2003-2004 when increased testing was done to rule out SARS.
 
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