THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS LOOKING INTO A CLUSTER OF CASES OF INFECTION WITH THE ELIZABETHKINGIA BACTERIA.
10 CASES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN ILLINOIS…AND SIX OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE DIED. PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DOCTOR NIRAV SHAH SAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO SEE HOW THEY ARE RELATED.
SHAH SAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHY CERTAIN PEOPLE ARE BEING INFECTED AND HOW THE ELIZABETHKINGIA BACTERIA IS TRANSMITTED.
THE ELIZABETHKINGIA BACTERIA IS COMMONLY FOUND IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND USUALLY DOESN’T CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO HAVE BECAME ILL HAVE BEEN OVER 65 WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.