CUDAHY - It is the kind of news, Paula Windsor did not want to hear.
"I was kind of worried," said Windsor.
That news came Saturday of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at Aurora St. Luke's South Shore, the very place she was just at.
"The 27th of February. I went in with my husband. He had a broken hand," she said.
That date is significant because according to health officials, eight patients came down with the pneumonia-type disease between February 24th and March 10th.
What's also significant, Paula's sick.
"I have the underlying condition of asthma and my voice has changed dramatically. I have a sore throat, I have a chronic cough and it's concerning me," she said.
That's why St. Luke's South Shore has called in extra staff this weekend to start contacting hundreds of patients who may be infected.
"Somewhere over a thousand folks will be called to let them know they may be on the list and if they have symptoms we encourage them to see their physician," said Bruce Van Cleave, chief medical officer for Aurora Health Care.
Those symptoms include coughing and a fever. Legionnaires' disease is spread through contaminated water-mist sometimes through a ventilation system.
Although state health officials haven't pinpointed the exact area in the hospital where this disease started they claim to have a pretty good idea. They have or are in the process of cleaning the potential contaminated areas.
"We believe the on-going source in the hospital is probably gone. People don't have to worry about going into the building," said Dr. Seth Foldy, state health officer.
Despite that, Paula isn't convinced.
"It's scary, it really is," said Windsor.
