Friend of Legionnaires’ disease victim talks - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Just days after the health department began warning guests of a downtown Chicago hotel about the threat of Legionnaires ‘ disease, one of those guests is stepping forward.

See: 3 guests contract Legionnaires' disease at Loop hotel

Emilia Adkins and her co-worker were in Chicago for a conference earlier this month, staying at the JW Marriott on Adams Street in the Loop. The trip went well until their return flight back home to the East Coast on August 3rd.

Adkins's and her co-worker started to experience chills and a fever but her condition improved in a few days.

Her co-worker, however, wasn't as lucky. Adkins spoke with FOX News Chicago about her co-worker's condition. For privacy reasons, she is no revealing his identity.

"He developed a cough the day after we returned home and 2 days later, he was admitted to the ICU with severe pneumonia and Legionnaire or Legionella bacteria."

Since his diagnosis, the Chicago Department of Public Health eventually became aware of at least two other confirmed cases of Legionnaires' and contacted the hotel. Since then, 8,500 former guests have been warned of the problem.

"He declined so rapidly and it's so terrifying to see what this can do," Adkins continued.

When she found out where her 50-year-old co-worker picked up Legionnaires' disease, she couldn't believe it.

The scary part was, that was the only, that was the only link we could think of. Because he and I work together, nobody at our office was feeling ill, we both would go home every night and none of our families were sick."

Now, she says her hope is to spread awareness after her friend came close to death because of Legionnaires' disease.

See: Legionnaires' disease: The Facts