By Neil Doyle

PONTIAC – The Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Public Health are investigating two cases of Legionnaires’ disease at the Pontiac Correctional Center.

The two individuals are in the hospital and stable, according to a news release. No other cases have been identified and IDOC continues to follow its plans to monitor offenders for respiratory illness.

IDPH infectious disease staff are working with the facility to collect information and further investigate the illnesses while environmental health staff are conducting a water quality assessment. The facility receives its water from the City of Pontiac and will begin a water quality testing program through an outside laboratory to monitor water quality data on an ongoing basis.

Legionnaire’s disease, a serious lung infection when inhaled, is not passed from person to person. The disease is most commonly associated with buildings or structures that have complex water systems like hospitals and long-term care facilities. Most healthy people do not get Legionnaires’ disease after being exposed to Legionella bacteria.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]