Legionella Bacteria Confirmed at Batavia High: Officials

BATAVIA, IL — A cooling tower at Batavia High School, which returned positive results for the bacteria producing Legionnaires' disease, has been shutdown and will be cleaned, disinfected and tested again before reopening in spring, the Kane County Chronicle reports. Meanwhile, school officials have been advised that is safe for people to be at Batavia High School and the Illinois Department of Public Health "does not have reason to believe that the potable water in the school, such as sinks and drinking fountains, is unsafe,” Batavia Public School District Communications Manager Holly Deitchman told the newspaper.

Officials also do not believe the cooling towers at Batavia High School are a likely source of the recent outbreak at Covenent Living at the Holmstad. Kane County health officials announced earlier in the week that there are currently 15 confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease.

Thirteen of those cases were reported at Covenant Living at the Holmstad. The two additional cases – one Geneva resident and one Batavia resident who both live within a half-mile from the facility — also have been diagnosed with Legionella, according to a news release.

More via the Kane County Chronicle

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