IDVA Receives Recent CDC Report

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) is providing an update on its water management and remediation efforts at the Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy (IVHQ) following the release of the latest Legionella Investigation Report prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) requested the CDC return to the IVHQ on February 12, 2018 after additional residents were positively diagnosed with Legionnaires Disease.

CDC experts tested 22 water samples during the visit. Twenty-one of the samples tested negative for the presence of Legionella bacteria. The one swab that returned positive was taken from the pipe of a shower head, before the water flowed through a point-of-use filter that had previously been installed.

"We appreciate the continued support and expert advice from both the CDC specialists and IDPH as we work to reduce the risks of Legionella exposure at the veterans' home in Quincy," said IDVA Acting Director Elisabeth Pennix. "With their guidance, we've significantly reduced the presence of Legionella in the potable water system. We're committed to making the necessary improvements to our water management plan so our heroes and our staff are safe."

In order to further reduce the risk of Legionella transmission at the IVHQ, the CDC recommended the immediate installation of point-of-use filters on all fixtures and suggested that staff remove residents from their rooms when the fixtures are flushed. IVHQ has since replaced all faucets on campus and fitted each with a point-of-use filter.

The filters significantly reduce the probability of Legionella bacteria coming out of the faucet. No post-filter water samples have tested positive for Legionella since the filters were installed.

As the root causes of Legionella growth at the home continue to be unclear, the CDC further recommends the IDVA consider additional "engineering controls, building water system modifications, and/or closure of specific buildings" in an effort to prevent additional cases. The IDVA is implementing and exploring these options; however, the CDC strongly suggests the IVHQ consult with a geriatric medical expert when considering relocating the residents, given the "possible adverse outcomes" of doing so with an older population, noting they are "highly susceptible to Legionnaire's disease, and that some disease risk will remain, irrespective of location."

The IVHQ has worked with the CDC since the initial cases of Legionella occurred at the home in 2015 and has implemented all of its recommendations. In addition, the IVHQ has installed a Bolus water treatment system in each residence hall and dining area and is in the process of installing point-of-entry filters, which will capture bacteria and filter water as it enters into the facilities.

The state of Illinois has also partnered with the city of Quincy to build a new Ranney collector well which will reduce organic content in the water, require less chemical treatment, and provide cleaner water to all residents in the city of Quincy, including those who live at the IVHQ. The construction of the well is being partially funded by a grant provided by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The city is slated to break ground on the well in August.

The administration has also proposed building a new, world-class residential facility on the grounds at the IVHQ.
 
The latest CDC report can be found on the IDPH website.