Health officials confirm case of Legionnaires' Disease at West Allis senior living facility

The Southwest Suburban Health Department said Friday that it identified a positive case of Legionnaires' Disease in West Allis.

SWSHD identified the Legionella bacteria in a cooling tower at 7400 W. Greenfield Ave., which houses Noble Senior Living, the department said in a news release.

According to the health department, there is no widespread risk to the community, but it advises West Allis residents living within a 1-mile radius of the address to self-monitor for symptoms such as muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, coughing and fever.

Any individuals experiencing any symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

“We have proactively been working with the facility to ensure the safety of the West Allis community as we continue to investigate this case,” Health Commissioner Robert Leischow said in the release. "We will continue working with the living facility to address this situation and protect the health of those living at or near this facility.”

SWSHD ordered the Noble Senior Living facility to take actions including using bottled water for drinking and discontinuing the use of showers, faucets and ice machines until proper filters are installed to repair the cooling tower and other water distribution services.

Legionella bacteria grow in warm water and can make people ill when they breathe in the mist from a water source infected with the bacteria, which can cause Legionnaires' Disease, SWSHD said in the release. The illness normally is not spread from person to person, but it must be treated with antibiotics. Those who have compromised immune systems, smoke, or are 50 years of age or older are more likely to be affected.

In 2018, three patients died and 14 were infected in Madison after contracting the disease. The disease was found to be linked to the UW Hospital's water supply system.

For more information and facts about Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires’ disease, visit the city of West Allis website. Any questions can be directed to Ashley Palen, Director of Community Health Services, at apalen@westalliswi.gov.

Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.