Legionnaires Bacteria Found In Batavia Schools
BATAVIA (CBS) -- A health scare for parents and students in the far west suburbs: Tests turned up the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' Disease at three separate schools.
Bacteria was found in three schools in Batavia after workers conducted water quality tests on Thursday.
At Batavia High School officials say they found the bacteria on a shower head in the locker room.
It was also found on bathroom faucets at Alice Gustafson and Hoover-Wood elementary schools.
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District officials say the levels are low, and students are not at risk.
One student told WBBM Newsradio it still has him worried.
"Yeah that really worries me. My mom even texted me this this morning, saying be careful."
However, they are not taking any chances. Officials are closing those areas and cleaning all school buildings over the three-day Columbus Day weekend.
Legionnaires' Disease is blamed for the deaths of three hotel guests at the JW Marriott in the West Loop this past summer.
Test results showed the primary source of the outbreak was a fountain in the hotel's main lobby.
The bacteria thrive in warm water.
One infectious disease expert told CBS2's Dana Kozlov it often mirrors pneumonia.
Symptoms include: headache, high fever, chills, cough and chest pain.
"It's not very common in Chicago," said Dr. John Segreti. "It tends to be worse in people who are older, people who are smokers, and have underlying lung disease or people who are immune suppressed in any way."
