BY STEFANO ESPOSITO Staff Reporter/sesposito@suntimes.com August 27, 2012 4:06PM
The JW Marriott at 151 W. Adams where alledgedly, three cases of Legionnaire's disease was found. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
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Updated: August 27, 2012 4:15PM
Two people have died after contracting Legionnaires’ disease linked to the JW Marriott in downtown Chicago, city officials said Monday.
There have now been a total of eight people diagnosed with the disease tied to the JW Marriott Hotel, 151 W. Adams.
Last week, health officials said three people came down with the disease after staying there. They increased the number to eight on Monday and revealed the deaths. Names were not disclosed.
Hotel staff drained the swimming pool, a hot tub and a fountain in the hotel’s foyer after learning of the outbreak Aug. 14, Marriott spokesman Jeff Flaherty said.
The first three cases of Legionnaires’ — a potentially fatal form of pneumonia — were confirmed among guests who stayed at the hotel between July 16 and Aug. 15.
Last week, officials said anyone who stayed there during that period who is experiencing symptoms consistent with pneumonia, or who has been diagnosed with pneumonia, should contact a doctor to discuss or modify treatment, the health department said.
City health officials and Marriott are contacting the 8,500 guests who stayed at the hotel during that time period.
Legionnaires’ disease is contracted by breathing in mist or vapors from water contaminated with the Legionella bacteria. It usually develops two to 14 days after exposure. It frequently begins with headache, high fever and chills, and progresses by the second or third day to include a cough, chest pain and shortness of breath.
Though the disease sometimes spreads through air conditioning systems, investigators were quickly able to rule that out in this case because the Marriott uses a type of air conditioner that cannot spread the disease, Flaherty said.
Guests staying at the hotel Tuesday were informed of the outbreak via letters left in their rooms, and all new guests were also informed before they checked in, Flaherty said.
About 30 cases of the disease are reported each year in Chicago.
People who may have been exposed can contact the CDPH hotline at (312) 746-4835 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
