Evanston Hotel Spa Closed After Legionella Found in Hot Tub

Key points

• Two confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease were linked to the Hilton Garden Inn North Shore/Evanston at 1818 Maple Ave.
• The pool and hot tub areas were closed starting September 2, with a planned reopening date of October 10.
• The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed Legionella bacteria in the hot tub water system on September 8, but not in other hotel areas.
• The hotel's website initially cited 'maintenance' for the closure, while city officials cited the health outbreak.
• The Illinois Department of Public Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are collaborating on the investigation.

Background

Legionnaires' disease is a serious pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets containing Legionella bacteria. Outbreaks are common in buildings with complex water systems, such as hotels and hospitals. In 2024, Evanston's YWCA temporarily closed its facilities due to two reported cases. Nationally, a cluster in New York City was recently linked to cooling towers, including one at Yankee Stadium.

How outlets are covering it

Evanston Patch and NBC 5 Chicago report that the pool and hot tub were closed on September 2, while the hotel's website stated the closure began on September 11 for 'maintenance.' The Chicago Tribune notes that the hotel did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the IDPH investigation. NBC 5 Chicago highlights that Illinois has seen 134 hospitalizations and 14 deaths from Legionnaires' disease this year, with cases expected to surge due to heat and humidity. The Chicago Tribune includes expert commentary from University of Chicago Medicine, noting that Legionella can overgrow if water temperatures are lowered or chlorination is inadequate.

Why it matters

The closure of a major hotel's spa in a suburban Chicago community highlights the ongoing risks of Legionella in complex water systems. The discrepancy between the hotel's public statement and city officials' notices raises questions about transparency during public health emergencies. The broader spike in Legionnaires' cases across Illinois underscores the need for rigorous water system maintenance in hospitality and healthcare facilities.

What to watch

The hotel's spa will remain closed until October 10, pending the completion of the remediation process. The Illinois Department of Public Health will continue to monitor the situation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will coordinate with IDPH on the investigation. Guests who visited the hotel in the past two weeks and are experiencing pneumonia symptoms are advised to consult a medical provider.