During an annual air quality test, Eastview Middle School in Bartlett, Ill., Larkin High School in Elgin, Ill., and the Educational Services Center (also in Elgin) that houses two alternative secondary programs showed levels of Legionella bacteria that were higher than what is considered “normal or safe” by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is 1,000 colony-forming units per milliliter.
Following the test, students and staff were sent home to “err on the side of safety,” School District U-46 CEO Tony Sanders told NBC Chicago.
Although Legionella can cause Legionnaires’ disease, no students or staff members have reported any illness that would be considered the disease. Additionally, Robert Tiballi, DO, an infectious disease specialist and chairman of infection control at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Ill., expressed confidence Sunday at a forum that there is almost no risk of infection from the bacteria found, according to the Chicago Tribune report.
Also at the informational forum, district officials said testing of the cooling systems will be scheduled before the school year starts in the future to prevent an evacuation from recurring.
More articles on Legionnaires’ disease:
How many more have to die before regulators take action on Legionnaires’ disease?
Death toll rises in Illinois Legionnaires’ disease outbreak
NYC Legionnaires’ disease outbreak ends after sickening hundreds
