By Mary Wisniewski Reuters 10:54 a.m. CDT, August 28, 2012
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Two people died and six others became ill after contracting Legionnaires’ disease in an outbreak linked to a Chicago Marriott hotel this summer, city health officials said.
The eight cases were among 8,500 people staying at the JW Marriott between July 16 and August 16. Marriott officials said Tuesday they have been able to contact 80 percent of the guests who stayed at the downtown hotel during that time to alert them of the possible risk.
There is “no ongoing health threat at the hotel,” according to Dr. Kathleen Ritger, Medical Director over Communicable Disease at the Chicago Department of Public Health.