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2 die in Legionnaires’ outbreak linked to Chicago hotel
Two people have died after contracting Legionnaires’ disease in an outbreak linked to a downtown Marriott hotel this summer, Chicago Department of Public Health officials said Monday.
The two dead are among eight people who came down with Legionnaires’ after staying in the JW Marriott at 151 W. Adams St. between mid-July and mid-August.
None of the eight people who contracted the disease are from the Chicago area or are being treated here, but city officials declined to provide any further information about them, citing privacy laws. The conditions of the six surviving people who caught Legionnaires’ is not known.
The city’s health department and hotel officials first announced three cases of the disease last week. At the time, the hotel said it had mailed letters about the outbreak to an estimated 65 percent of the 8,500 guests who stayed at the hotel between July 16 and Aug. 15.
As of Monday, 80 percent of those guests had been notified, and efforts were being made to reach the rest, Marriott spokesman Jeff Flaherty said. Current guests are being informed of the outbreak, although the city’s health department says there is “no ongoing health risk at the hotel.” Marriott has cooperated with the investigation, health officials said.
Boobie the Rocket Dog
August 29th, 2012
So, here’s the Marriott, leading the hoteliers’ fight against smokers like Hitler’s SS, but can’t keep their own a/c ducts disease-free?
I haven’t stayed at a Marriott since Philly, eleven years ago, after which they (and their subsidiaries) came up with that policy.
Xavier
August 29th, 2012
Almost exactly a year ago I lost a friend to Legionnaires’; he was driving a truck coming out of Canada and stopped in a truck stop for a shower when he caught it. The CDC was involved but never could determine exactly where he picked it up. Just saw his parents and brother at a picnic last weekend – they’ll never be the same.
Y’all be careful out there. Legionnaires’ don’t play.
Brooke
August 29th, 2012
So they stayed at the Marriott, eh?
I’ll bet whoever survived got a complimentary case of bedbugs.
Ice on the road
August 29th, 2012
I have a cot in the back of my truck. Lot safer.
hu da thunk
August 29th, 2012
ya mean day cooked up anudder way o’ killun somebody?
Doc
August 29th, 2012
When they hunt this type of bug after the fact the usually find the culprit is the cooling tower from the chiller system. Spa and pool water usually get treatment and take the blame because they are high visibility targets. Legionella needs 88 degree water to grow and is spread by atomization both of which are common with untreated cooling towers.
scr_north
August 29th, 2012
It was Chicago so I’m wondering where the Legionella found the tiny little guns they used?
skh.pcola
August 29th, 2012
I blame Obama. What? The progtards still blame Bush for everything. Fair is fair.