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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, School District U-46 (Elgin) conducted routine
3water sampling and found abnormally high levels of Legionella;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, The school district closed its facilities in an
6effort to protect school children; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Legionella is a bacteria that is found naturally
8in the environment, usually in warm water; and
 
9    WHEREAS, In situations where environmental factors are
10favorable to the growth of Legionella in large numbers and the
11bacteria is aerosolized, human illness can occur; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Legionnaires' disease is transmitted by the
13inhalation of a mist or vapor that has been contaminated with
14Legionella bacteria; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The most vulnerable population for contracting
16Legionnaires' disease is individuals 49 or older, smokers, and
17people with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Legionnaires' disease is not transmitted person

 

 

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1to person; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The United States Centers for Disease Control and
3Prevention recommends, when Legionella is identified, to treat
4the water; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Public Health has
6encouraged school districts, prior to testing for Legionella,
7to implement and develop plans for the testing if a positive
8result were to occur; and
 
9    WHEREAS, School districts are following the testing
10recommendations as outlined by the American Society of Heating,
11Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standards;
12therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
15encourage the Illinois State Board of Education and the
16Illinois Department of Public Health to work in collaboration
17with school districts to develop and implement plans for the
18testing of Legionella; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, The Illinois State Board of Education and the
20Illinois Department of Public Health update the General
21Assembly with a report on their progress by December 31, 2016;

 

 

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1and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
3provided to the State Superintendent of Education and Director
4of Public Health.