CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating four cases of Legionnaires' disease – three patients and a hospital staff member -- linked to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
Two of the patients were at Christ Medical Center within the past two months, the IDPH said.
The IDPH is testing the hospital's water and that the hospital is working with the state on a water management plan, state public health officials continued.
Legionnaires’ disease can be fatal but the state health department said most healthy people exposed to Legionella bacteria do not get the illness. Symptoms, which include coughing, shortness of breath, fever, muscle pains and headaches, generally take two to 10 days to appear after someone's been exposed to Legionella bacteria.
"Water containing Legionella can be aerosolized through cooling towers, showers, hot tubs and decorative fountains,” IDPH officials said.