The Illinois House is taking up a measure that requires veterans’ home officials to promptly inform families about Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks. It’s a response to the ongoing health crisis at the Quincy Veterans’ Home.
Sue Scherer joined a chorus of lawmakers who have condemned the Rauner administration's handling of that outbreak, which left 13 veterans dead and sickened nearly 60 others over the past three years
The Decatur Democrat says concerns about her own nursing home-bound mother echo the concerns of those families in Quincy.
“So I can really relate to this, because I’m worried about my mom, I’m worried about myself, my kids, my grandkids when they go visit.”
Scherer’s legislation would require veteran home officials to notify residents, family members, and staff of a Legionnaires’ outbreak within 24 hours. According to newly-released emails, Illinois public health officials had initially waited nearly a week to let the public know of the first outbreak in 2015.
Another measure calls for notification of other outbreaks, like the flu.
