Health Officials Testing Grocer's Produce Misting System for Legionnaires' Disease
The Cook County, Ill., Department of Public Health is testing water samples from a produce misting system at a suburban Chicago grocery as part of an investigation into six recent cases of Legionnaires' disease.
A health department spokesman was quoted in local press reports as saying that three of the six reported cases appear to be originating in the south Chicago suburbs of Tinley Park and Orland Park, and involve people who shopped at EuroFresh Market, 16000 S. Harlem Ave., in Orland Park.
Five people in Tinley Park and one person in Orland have been found to have the disease, with no additional cases being reported.
"All of the cases that have been diagnosed have been successfully treated, and the people have been released from area hospitals," health department spokesman Sean McDermott was quoted as saying. As for the grocery store in question, McDermott said, "We're in no way pointing a finger at them," he said. "It is one of many possible sources."
At presstime, local health officials were awaiting results from tests of the store's misting system in the produce department for evidence of the disease.
Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia that can spread through plumbing and air conditioning systems. Cook County, Ill., has reported 30 cases of the disease this year.
A health department spokesman was quoted in local press reports as saying that three of the six reported cases appear to be originating in the south Chicago suburbs of Tinley Park and Orland Park, and involve people who shopped at EuroFresh Market, 16000 S. Harlem Ave., in Orland Park.
Five people in Tinley Park and one person in Orland have been found to have the disease, with no additional cases being reported.
"All of the cases that have been diagnosed have been successfully treated, and the people have been released from area hospitals," health department spokesman Sean McDermott was quoted as saying. As for the grocery store in question, McDermott said, "We're in no way pointing a finger at them," he said. "It is one of many possible sources."
At presstime, local health officials were awaiting results from tests of the store's misting system in the produce department for evidence of the disease.
Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia that can spread through plumbing and air conditioning systems. Cook County, Ill., has reported 30 cases of the disease this year.