New health woes at Quincy vets home
24 reportedwith vomiting, diarrhea at facilitywhere 13 have died fromLegionnaires’
The state’s Department of Public Health on Friday reported that 24 people at the embattled Illinois Veterans Home in Downstate Quincy have contracted a gastrointestinal illness that is causing vomiting and diarrhea.
The home is where 13 residents have died of Legionnaires’ disease since 2015. Dozens more contracted the severe form of pneumonia.
The department reported an outbreak of the gastrointestinal illness among both residents and staff. Norovirus is suspected, although tests are pending to confirm that.
“Beginning earlier this week, 24 individuals experienced vomiting and diarrhea for a couple days,” the department said in a release. All the cases are located in one building, and the department said “there have been no serious illnesses and individuals are recovering.”
The department sent staff to the home to inspect the kitchen and gather data on those who became sick. The department notes norovirus is the leading cause of illness and outbreaks from contaminated food in the U. S.
Gov. Bruce Rauner has been criticized along with state health officials for their handling of a Legionnaires’ crisis. Emails obtained by WBEZ indicated officials knew about the outbreak for nearly a week before alerting the public. Eleven families are suing the state.
In January, Rauner spent several nights at the home “to gain a more thorough understanding of the clinical, water- treatment and residential operations of the home,” a spokeswoman said at the time.