Case of Legionnaires’ disease confirmed at state-operated developmental
center
[January 21, 2026]
By Beth Hundsdorfer
The Illinois Department of Public health has confirmed a case of
Legionnaires’ disease at the state-run Shapiro Developmental Center in
Kankakee, Capitol News Illinois has learned.
In a joint statement from IDPH and the Illinois Department of Human
Services released late Tuesday, the agencies confirmed a single case at
Shapiro Center — home to adults with intellectual or developmental
disabilities.
“Immediate control measures were taken to restrict use of potential
sources of exposure, and testing those sources is underway,” the
agencies said in a statement. “Those test results are still pending.
IDPH and IDHS continue to work with facility staff to ensure all
appropriate safety measures are implemented, including monitoring staff
and residents for symptoms of Legionnaire’s disease, and prompt testing
as needed.”
The state declined to comment on the condition of the Shapiro resident
who tested positive, citing patient confidentiality.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by
Legionella bacteria, treatable by antibiotics, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms include cough, fever,
headaches, muscle aches and shortness of breath. Other symptoms, such as
confusion, diarrhea or nausea can also occur. Though most healthy people
who are exposed to Legionella bacteria don’t get sick, older people,
smokers or those with weakened immune systems can develop symptoms. It
can result in lung failure or death.
Shapiro currently is home to 464 adults with intellectual or
developmental disabilities — with 44% considered profoundly disabled and
86% on a behavior intervention program.
“Shapiro Center serves people who exhibit severe behavioral problems,
have significant medical issues, and are medically fragile,” according
to the IDHS website.
About one in 10 people who contract Legionnaires’ disease will die due
to complications from their illness, according to the CDC. But for those
who live in a health care facility the rate of death can increase to one
in four.
Illinois experienced a previous outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in a
state-operated facility in 2015. From 2015 to 2018, the Illinois
Veterans’ Home at Quincy faced deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks,
killing 13 residents.
Former Attorney General Lisa Madigan launched a criminal investigation
into the former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration’s handling of the
outbreak of the cases at Quincy. An audit of the Rauner administration’s
actions later revealed delayed responses, mishandling and poor
communication in the response.
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Dr. Sameer Vohra speaks at an event in Springfield in May 2023.
(Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
The cause in the Quincy cases was traced to contaminated water
systems. The site recently reopened late last year after major water
systems were overhauled, including a water tank that was out of
service for a couple of months in 2015, just before the outbreak.
The report found that while the tank was out of service, the water
inside was unheated then went back into the system. Two weeks later,
the initial outbreak was identified. The CDC recommended filters be
installed on all fixtures in the hot water system.
In October, the new Illinois Veterans’ Home at Quincy reopened —
after a nearly $300 million renovation through the Rebuild Illinois
capital program. The Illinois Veterans’ Home can house 467 veterans.
This is the latest blow to Illinois’ state-operated developmental
centers. In 2023, Capitol News Illinois and ProPublica investigated
reports of abuse and neglect at the Choate Mental Health and
Developmental Center, located in deep southern Illinois, as well as
other problems at state-operated developmental centers.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation
into Choate, as well as the Jack Mabley Developmental Center in
Dixon and the Shapiro Developmental Center, three of the seven
state-operated residential institutions operated by IDHS.
The investigation was to probe Illinois’ treatment of people with
developmental disabilities, examining whether the state provides
adequate resources for community living and protects residents from
harm in public institutions.
Illinois continues to have one of the highest rates of
institutionalization of people with intellectual or developmental
disabilities in the United States. There are presently about 1,500
living in seven state-operated developmental centers. Shapiro has
the largest number of individuals with intellectual or developmental
disabilities, according to census data provided by the Illinois
Department of Human Services.
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