Elgin School District U46 officials say out of an abundance of caution, Eastview Middle School, Larkin High School and the Educational Services Center, housing Gifford Street middle and high schools and the Central Schools Program, will remain closed Thursday.
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The CEO of an Elgin school district said elevated levels of Legionella bacteria discovered at three schools were limited to the buildings’ cooling systems. “The opportunity for that to vaporize and get into the air where a student of staff member could breathe it is very slim”.
Three schools in Illinois have been evacuated after air quality tests found higher than normal levels of legionella bacteria.
Legionnaires’ can not be spread from person to person, and is contracted by breathing in water vapor containing the bacteria.
Eastview students are being transported to Bartlett High until parents can pick them up. Special needs students were also transported out of the buildings where the presences of Legionella was detected, ABC 7 News reports. “The disease typically presents as pneumonia and symptoms may include a high fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, headaches, and diarrhea”, according to Legionella.org.
The school district posted a message on its Facebook page, explaining the decision to evacuate the schools immediately.
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[Image via: Screengrab / Twitter].
