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Legionella bacteria might have been found at Capitol Complex

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Illinois

Preliminary test results show the “possible presence” of Legionella bacteria in the water system of the Illinois Capitol Complex, a memo disclosed Monday night.

Officials said they are not aware of any reports of Legionnaire’s disease, a type of pneumonia, among state employees or the public. And experts at the Illinois Department of Public Health are confident the complex is safe for state employees to go to work.

“Out of an abundance of caution and because of heightened awareness and continued misconceptions about Legionnaires’ disease, we want to make you aware of preliminary test results that indicate the possible presence of Legionella bacteria in the Capitol Complex hot water system,” said the memo sent to state employees who work in the complex from Deputy Gov. Trey Childress and Mike Wojcik, the secretary of state’s director of physical spaces.

The Secretary of State’s Office, which oversees the Capitol Complex, ordered the test after a pipe burst in the Illinois State Armory just north of the Statehouse.

“Given the fact that it was at the dead end of a pipe, we wanted to err on the side of caution and have it tested right away, which we did because of the potential for stagnated water,” Henry Haupt, a spokesman for the secretary of state, said Monday night.

* WTTW…

Only a preliminary test has been conducted, which does not indicate whether the bacteria are alive. Only cells that are alive cause a health risk, said Ian Cull, owner of the indoor environmental consulting company Indoor Sciences.

“If water treatment is doing it’s (sic) job, you may have dead cells in the system,” Cull told Chicago Tonight via email.

The memo advises employees to avoid using showers or “removing aerators” but that “we have been advised by experts that the transmission of this bacteria in normal, day-to-day office operations is unlikely” given that Legionnaires’ disease is not spread from person to person or by drinking water, but rather by inhaling vapors from a contaminated water source.

Additional testing at the capitol complex is underway. According to the memo from Childress and Wojcik, it could take 14 days to determine whether the cells are living.

This is a good idea, even if it turns out to be a false alarm. But taking this step so early completely undermines the claims by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Public Health that early warnings like this could panic the public.

It also opens up the state to claims that it acts with an “abundance of caution” when it comes to the health of high-level Capitol Complex bureaucrats, but waits weeks to notify residents and their families of the presence of Legionnaires’ disease at the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:12 am

Comments

If this was PQ in office and he handled this Fox News would have 24/7 media coverage. At least Rauner’s team doesn’t make the same mistake twice. Snark

Comment by Almost the Weekend Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:14 am
Is the national guard on standby to address the panic from this news?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:16 am
How many showers are there in the Capitol complex and who gets to use them?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:18 am
Agency folks — every state worker, I assume — got a really weird, almost spam-ish email yesterday from Trey Childress. My finger was literally about to block and trash it when I read through it.

Hands down, the most *bizarre* Sunday email I’ve ever gotten. And from Childress to boot.

—

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: All Capitol Complex State Employees
FROM: Mike Wojcik, Director of Physical Services, Secretary of State
Trey Childress, Deputy Governor & Chief Operating Officer
SUBJECT: Water Testing for Legionella Bacteria
DATE: January 22, 2018
Out of an abundance of caution and because of heightened awareness and continued misconceptions about Legionnaires’ disease, we want to make you aware of preliminary test results that indicate the possible presence of Legionella bacteria in the Capitol Complex hot water system. This is the bacteria that can cause Legionnaires’ disease. We are not aware of any reports of Legionnaires’ disease among Springfield state employees or the general public.
More testing is required and is currently underway. Results should be available in approximately 14 days. In the meantime, we have been advised by experts that the transmission of this bacteria in normal, day-to-day office operations is unlikely.
Legionnaires’ disease is typically contracted by inhaling mist or vapor from a water source contaminated with the bacteria. The disease is not contracted by drinking water and is not spread person-to-person. Nonetheless, steps are being taken by the Secretary of State’s Physical Services Department, including advising against the use of the few showers and removing aerators in the Capitol Complex as necessary.
The health and safety of state employees and visitors is our top priority. We will pass along relevant updates as they become available.

For more information regarding Legionella bacteria, please visit the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/legionellosis.

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:18 am
===It also opens up the state to claims that it acts with an “abundance of caution” when it comes to the health of high-level Capitol Complex bureaucrats, but waits weeks to notify residents and their families of the presence of Legionnaires’ disease at the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy.===

This is the biggest perceived problem.

You can’t have “caution” at one location and 6 days of… I dunno what… at another, no matter if you stayed at the home for a week or not.

I hope for everyone’s sake that this new revelation at the complex was caught in time, even if it raises serious questions again towards the Rauner administration and their own actions in Quincy.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:26 am
Macbeth - I’m not sure what is “really weird” about the email. The event itself is weird, but it seems like the memo provides useful information.

Comment by morningstar Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:30 am
===How many showers are there in the Capitol complex===

I only know of one: Secretary White’s office. But I’m sure there are a bunch at the armory, even though it’s closed.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:31 am
The Armory makes sense and I hadn’t even considered it. I would have guessed the Governor’s office had one too. Kind of surprised the SOS has one but the Governor doesn’t. I guess it’s good to be in charge of the building if you can’t be in charge of the whole state. Thanks for the info.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:34 am
—
Macbeth - I’m not sure what is “really weird” about the email. The event itself is weird, but it seems like the memo provides useful information.
—

Well, what’s weird is the (a) timing (on a Sunday?) and (b) the first sentence: ‘because of heightened awareness and continued misconceptions’.

To me, at least, that had an odd, almost angry political taint to it — but nevermind that because the memo itself doesn’t address or correct any of the ‘misconceptions’ and continues with what, I assume, is the fear mongering that everyone (besides the smart people, of course) are engaged in.

So, something like: “All right, look, yeah, there’s some serious bacteria here. And, yeah, there’s a lot of fear mongering going around. But don’t panic. I mean, seriously: we care about state employees. But don’t breathe in any mist from those aerators. Still, it’s all just fear mongering. So there you go, pal.”

Me, that’s how I read it. And that, on a late Sunday afternoon, is weird.

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:36 am
I got a peak at the Gov’s bathroom a while ago, but I can’t recall if there was a shower. My focus was on the mass quantities of liquor Thompson kept in there.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:36 am
Just another legacy of Jim Thompson’s tenure as Governor. Most State facilities were constructed/expanded in the 1950’s/1960’s and required improvements and investments in the 1980’s. “Big Jim” skipped those investments in infrastructure, and left every governor since with a broken pension system, and a broken budget.

The Armory (vacant and collapsing), the Stratton building (asbestos, inefficient), the underground and above ground parking garages that are crumbling, and now, inadequate and dangerous water infrastructure systems.

The state of our state is a travesty.

Comment by Kay-Ro Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:37 am
==Kind of surprised the SOS has one but the Governor doesn’t.==

Several of my friends who work under the dome have opined over the years that the SOS office is nicer than the Governor’s.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:38 am
Thank you Jesse White and his office. They know how to run an office.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:39 am
This adds another health concern for Capitol complex workers. There is always the concern of Histoplasmosis from the pigeon droppings. Over the years, Public Health has repeatedly been called in to consult on the problem.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:40 am
===the SOS office is nicer than the Governor’s===

The SOS controls the building.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:54 am
abndance of caution and the very sad and unnecessary deaths in Quincy. Will GovJunk run down and sleep in his state house crib.
BTW there are showers all over the building. No idea how many are ever used. There are apartments in the SC building. Wonder if the justices rehabbed the H2O when they did the building?

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:55 am
Has anyone checked with contacts in different agencies, etc. to see if all state employees did in fact receive the memo? Probably not intentional but it may not be as widely distributed as this implies.

Comment by What Memo Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:05 am
Old pipes break. Seems the folks downstate never buried them deep enough to begin with. This problem will probably get a worse before it gets better. It’ll drive everyone nuts to see infrastructure spending that no one can see. This is well beyond cosmetic fixes. Those copper doors are a huge waste if the water is bad.

Just like a homeowner; gotta fix it.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:09 am
There are showers in the basement of the SOS Police / Index Building next door to the armory. The building was once the bomb shelter for the Capitol Complex and the showers remain. Never known anyone to use them but they are there.

Comment by Not It Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:12 am
The notification was released yesterday. Monday. Not Sunday.

Comment by Bloozfan Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:20 am
—Legionnaires’ disease is not spread from person to person or by drinking water,—

Then why did Governor Junk make it clear that he drank water from the “sinks” in Quincy?

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:24 am
This is evidence that folks entering the Capitol with a flask in their pocket are the clear-thinkers. Take no chances

Comment by Truthteller Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:26 am
It has been clear from Rauner’s actions for three years that there is *something* in the water in the Governor’s Office.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 12:11 pm
=his is a good idea, even if it turns out to be a false alarm. But taking this step so early completely undermines the claims by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Public Health that early warnings like this could panic the public.

It also opens up the state to claims that it acts with an “abundance of caution” when it comes to the health of high-level Capitol Complex bureaucrats, but waits weeks to notify residents and their families of the presence of Legionnaires’ disease at the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy.=

Or this is an example of the state learning its lesson. But your probably right, since a mistake was made in Quincy, it should be repeated again in Springfield.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:13 pm
Drink up governor

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 2:06 pm
===Or this is an example of the state learning its lesson===

Earlier this month, the directors of vets affairs and public health defended not informing the public. So maybe the governor’s office learned something that two members of his cabinet obviously did not.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 2:18 pm
“Nonetheless, steps are being taken by the Secretary of State’s Physical Services Department, including advising against the use of the few showers and removing aerators in the Capitol Complex as necessary.”

It is surprising that they would advise against using the showers in the Capitol Complex, but, it is evidently “safe” to use the showers in the veterans home.

Comment by Blackhawk Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 9:13 pm