A third death has been reported in the Legionnaires' disease
outbreak at a high-end hotel in downtown Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune reports that, according to an Irish
newspaper, Thomas Keane, 66, was visiting Chicago from his native Ireland when
he dined at the JW Marriott, 151 W. Adams St., with his wife in July.
Keane, a retired plumber, and his wife were celebrating
their 40th wedding anniversary on the trip.
Health officials on Friday also announced two new confirmed
cases of the illness, which victims thus far identified in the outbreak
contracted while staying at the hotel between July 16 and Aug. 15, according to
the Chicago Sun-Times.
Health officials also identified the source of the bacterial
disease's outbreak: the decorative fountain located in the hotel's lobby, according
to ABC Chicago.
The fountain has since been removed from the hotel's lobby
and other areas found to have contained the same bacteria -- including the
hotel's pool, spa whirlpool and men's and women's locker rooms -- have been
"disabled or made inaccessible to the public," the Tribune reports.
Last month, the city announced three cases of the
fast-spreading, sometimes fatal Legionnaire's disease. The bacteria spread
through the inhalation of contaminated water vapor, causing a severe form of
pneumonia.
In response to the news, the hotel issued a warning to all
recent guests, and began the complicated process of notifying the 8,500 guests
who stayed there in recent months.
The outbreak was previously responsible for two deaths of
guests of the hotel.
Health officials noted that there "is no ongoing public
health risk" at the hotel, according to CBS Chicago.
Symptoms of the disease include headache, chills, chest pain
and fever. A hotline has been set up by Chicago Department of Public Health to
answer questions from people who may have been exposed.
Source: Huffington Post
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