Officials have announced two confirmed cases of Legionnaire’s Disease at the Pontiac Correctional Center.
According to the Department of Corrections, the two inmates are hospitalized in stable condition. The agency is monitoring others for any sign of the disease.
It’s contracted by breathing in water vapor that contains Legionella bacteria and results in a serious form of pneumonia.
A water quality assessment is underway at the prison. At this time, no other cases have been identified.
Legionnaire’s has been a problem at other state-run facilities, including a deadly outbreak at the Quincy Veterans' Home in 2015.
WGLT depends on financial support from users to bring you stories and interviews like this one. As someone who values experienced, knowledgeable, and award-winning journalists covering meaningful stories in central Illinois, please consider making a contribution.