🦠😳 DAMN, EVANSTON... AGAIN?! FIRST THE WRONG MAN, NOW LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE LINKED TO A HOTEL HOT TUB

Evanston has been BUSY in the news lately, and unfortunately, we're back again.

Just after the city found itself dealing with questions surrounding federal agents detaining the wrong U.S. citizen, Evanston health officials are now warning the public about something completely unrelated but equally worthy of attention:

Two confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease have been linked to the pool and hot-tub areas of an Evanston hotel.

And this time, investigators actually found Legionella bacteria in the hot-tub water system. 

🏨 WHAT HAPPENED?

The cases are associated with the Hilton Garden Inn Chicago North Shore/Evanston at 1818 Maple Avenue.

According to the City of Evanston, both people who became ill reported spending time in the hotel's pool and hot-tub areas during August.

The pool and hot-tub areas have been closed since September 2. The Illinois Department of Public Health conducted environmental testing at the hotel on September 8.

And then the lab results came back.

Legionella was detected in the water system associated with the hot tub.

The good news is that samples taken from other areas of the hotel did not detect Legionella, according to the city.

So no, this does not mean the entire hotel water system has been declared contaminated.

But that spa?

CLOSED.

And it's staying closed until the remediation process is completed.

😳 WAIT... WHAT EXACTLY IS LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE?

This isn't just somebody getting itchy after sitting in a questionable hot tub.

Legionnaires' disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria.

People can become infected after breathing in tiny droplets of contaminated water. Hot tubs are one of the environments where Legionella can grow because the bacteria thrive in warm-water systems.

And here's an important part:

You don't normally catch Legionnaires' disease from another person.

So this isn't a situation where somebody coughs near you in the hotel lobby and suddenly everybody needs to run.

People 50 and older, current or former smokers, people with chronic illnesses and people with weakened immune systems are among those at greater risk of becoming seriously ill.

🤒 WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE WATCH FOR?

Evanston health officials say anyone who recently visited the hotel and develops symptoms consistent with pneumonia should contact a medical provider.

Symptoms can include cough, shortness of breath, fever and fatigue. Illinois health officials also list chills, muscle pain, headache and chest pain among possible symptoms.

And please don't diagnose yourself through Facebook University.

If you were potentially exposed and you're sick, call an actual medical professional.

🧪 WHAT'S THE HOTEL DOING?

The city says hotel management has been cooperating with state and local health officials, and guests were notified.

IDPH provided instructions for remediation, and the affected spa area will remain closed until that process is complete.

So at this point, we're talking about two confirmed cases, not some giant hotel-wide outbreak.

That's an important distinction.

But two confirmed illnesses plus Legionella detected in the hot-tub system is certainly enough to make health officials say:

Nobody get back in that water yet.

🎙️ LADY RED SAYS...

EVANSTON.

BABY.

WHAT IS GOING ON UP THERE THIS WEEK?! 😭

First we had federal agents allegedly detaining a man because they thought he was somebody else.

Now we've got:

“And in other Evanston news... please stay out the hot tub.”

DAMN!

At this point I'm scared to ask what's next.

And listen, I LOVE a hotel hot tub.

But the minute the Health Department starts using words like “environmental investigation,” “laboratory testing” and “remediation,”

my swimsuit is going directly back in the suitcase.

Because Lady Red ain't getting into ANY water where the bacteria have their own government investigation. 😂

All jokes aside, Legionnaires' disease can be very serious, particularly for people at higher risk.

So if you were at this hotel, especially around the pool or hot tub during August, and you've developed pneumonia-like symptoms, don't shrug it off.

Get medical advice.

And Evanston...

Can we please have ONE boring news day?

Just one.

730 BOOM RADIO

IT HITS DIFFERENT. EVERY TIME. BOOM! 💥