State reports Legionnaires’ cluster in Burbank; 4 cases linked to church
A cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases has been reported in a southwest suburb, with multiple cases linking back to an area church, public health officials said Friday.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is working with the Stickney Public Health District to investigate the cluster of cases reported between June and August in Burbank.
Four cases were linked to St. Albert the Great Church — three epidemiologically and one geographically, the health department said in a statement issued Friday.
Laboratory tests revealed the presence of legionella, the bacteria which causes Legionnaires’ disease, in the church’s cooling tower, according to the health department.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection that people can get by breathing in small droplets of water containing legionella bacteria, IDPH said.
Legionnaires’ disease often begins with a high fever, chills, muscle aches, cough and shortness of breath, Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the health department, said. The symptoms usually develop up to two weeks after exposure, according to Vohra.
Most healthy people will not become sick after exposure to legionella bacteria but there is an increased risk for people over 50 or those with certain risk factors, such as current or former smokers, according to the state health department.
Sophie Sherry
Man fatally shot in Englewood
A man was killed in a shooting early Saturday in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side.
The man, 22, was found with multiple gunshot wounds about 3 a.m. in the 6000 block of South Racine Avenue, Chicago police said.
He was struck in the chest and arm and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Allison Novelo
Man fatally stabbed in South Shore
A man was stabbed to death during an altercation Saturday morning in South Shore.
The man, 38, was in an argument with a female offender about 7:20 a.m. in the 2100 block of East 69th Street when she began stabbing him, Chicago police said.
Cindy Hernandez
Man shot to death in Old Town
A man was fatally shot early Saturday in Old Town on the Near North Side.
The man, 31, was found on the ground with a gunshot wound in the chest a few minutes after midnight in the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue, Chicago police said. Allison Novelo
Officer struck by hit-and-run driver during traffic stop in Fifth City
A Chicago police officer was struck by a hit-and-run driver during a traffic stop Friday night in Fifth City, according to police.
About 10:30 p.m., the officer was conducting a traffic stop in the 3300 block of West Congress Parkway when the driver of a black sedan took off down Homan Avenue, striking the officer, Chicago police said.
The officer was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was treated for minor arm and leg injuries, police said. Allison Novelo