More light was shed Saturday on officials' response to the bacterial disease outbreak that caused the deaths of two individuals at a Vernon Hills retirement community.

News broke Friday that The Park had three confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease and several other suspected cases.

The disease, which is contracted by inhaling contaminated mist or vapor, is not contagious and is not transmitted from person to person. It is treatable with antibiotics but can be serious and cause death in up to 30 percent of cases, according to health officials.

In this case, the suspected source may be the aquatic elements in the atrium of the facility, which includes a rain forest, waterfall and spa.

Those facilities have since been shut down.

One of the deaths occurred in September, but that case was not indicative of a potentially larger problem, Victor Plotkin, epidemiologist for the Lake County Health Department said.

That changed when the health department was notified of a second case earlier this week.

Subsequent investigation revealed a third confirmed case and the other suspected cases.

The Illinois Department of Public Health, which licenses the facility, is leading the investigation and the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta is consulting.

According to a village news release dated Saturday, testing to determine the source of the Legionella bacterium at the 145 N. Milwaukee Ave. facility took place Thursday.

Residents, staff members and visitors were notified Friday.

After a Friday conference call between Vernon Hills and Countryside Fire Protection District officials, Mayor Roger Byrne, Village Manager Manager Michael Allison, Chief Jeff Steingart and Building Commissioner Michael Atkinson conducted a site visit to the retirement community.

Test results are expected in two weeks.

Jane Woloson, executive director at The Park, said of the individuals who contracted Legionnaires lived at The Park several years but already had moved out when the person died.

"We don't have their death certificates so we don't know what they passed away from. It's true they did have the diagnosis," she said Friday evening.

She said both people had other health issues.

"We're doing everything we possibly can to take precautions," Woloson added. "They're saying the risk is minimal."