Latest news with #legionnaires
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
London, Ont., health officials tracking down source of legionnaires' outbreak
Amid a legionnaires' outbreak in London, Dr. Joanne Kearon, associate medical officer of health for the Middlesex-London Health Unit, explains how testing for the disease works and what the health unit samples when testing cooling systems.
CBC
08-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
1 dead, over 40 sick as legionnaires' outbreak spreads in southeast London, Ont.
Social Sharing One person is dead and more than 40 people sick after an outbreak of legionnaires' disease in London, Ont. The Middlesex-London Health Unit, which declared the outbreak, said the cases were reported within the last week. Most of the people with the severe respiratory illness live and/or work within a six-kilometre radius of one another, in the southeast side of the city, officials said. In a statement Tuesday, officials said the health unit is working closely with Public Health Ontario and the Public Health Ontario Laboratories to investigate and try to determine the source of the outbreak. "Environmental sampling of potential sources of legionella is ongoing. Since legionella can be found in many types of cooling systems, the investigation may take time." This is the second outbreak of legionnaires' disease in London since last summer. Last year's outbreak was localized in the city's east end and led to two deaths and 30 total reported infections. "At this time, it is not known whether it [the current outbreak] is the same location as the legionnella outbreak from last year," the health unit said. "However, this is being considered as part of the ongoing investigation." Bacteria found in water sources Legionnaires' disease is caused by legionella bacteria, naturally found in water sources such as hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems or parts of air-conditioning systems. Legionella is not transmitted from person to person. If the bacteria are aerosolized or misted into the air (via wind or fans), people may inhale the bacteria and become unwell. Most people exposed to legionella don't get ill, but some may experience Pontiac fever, a mild, flu-like illness that commonly resolves itself. Individuals who are older, have lung problems or are immunocompromised (have a weak immune system) are at greater risk of serious infection. Anyone who develops symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath are encouraged to seek medical attention. All business owners and property managers should ensure all cooling equipment is regularly maintained and sanitized as per the manufacturer's instructions. Although masks can decrease the risk of infection, the health unit is not recommending regular community-wide use of them specifically for the prevention of legionnaire's disease, as the public risk is low.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
One dead after legionnaires' outbreak
One person has died following an outbreak of legionnaires' disease in Sydney's CBD prompting authorities to issue a health alert. NSW Health said 12 people who spent time in the city and surrounding suburbs between March and April had contracted the deadly disease. 'Sadly, one of the people who contracted the disease passed away in hospital last week,' a NSW Health spokesman said on Wednesday. Authorities tested more than 165 cooling towers in the city and detected legionella bacteria in one. The cooling tower is being decontaminated and further tests are being conducted to determine if it was the source of the outbreak. Anyone who was in the Sydney CBD and surrounding suburbs between March and April is urged to be aware of symptoms including fever, chills, coughing and shortness of breath. Symptoms can develop up to 10 days after exposure and anyone who experiences symptoms should see their doctor. South Eastern Sydney Local Heath District Public Health Unit Director Vicky Sheppeard said 11 people with the disease had been hospitalised and one person received care out of hospital. 'Legionnaires' disease is caused by infection with legionella bacteria,' Dr Sheppeard said. 'Outbreaks sometimes occur when bacteria from environmental sources such as cooling towers atop large buildings become contaminated. It is not spread from person to person. 'NSW Health continues to work closely with the City of Sydney to identify, inspect and sample any cooling towers in the CBD potentially implicated in the outbreak. 'Most building owners have responded quickly to ensure that their cooling towers are operated and maintained in compliance with the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022.'
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Urgent warning as disease hits major city
An urgent health warning has been issued for people in an inner Sydney suburb amid several confirmed cases of legionnaires' disease. Three people from Potts Point, aged between their 40s and 70s and unknown to one another, have contracted the disease, NSW Health have confirmed. NSW Health is advising anyone who visited the Potts Point area between June 8 and June 18 to be vigilant and monitor symptoms of the disease. Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection caused by the legionella bacteria, and can trigger symptoms including a fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath. Without treatment, the disease can be fatal. The disease is not spread person to person and can sometimes be caused by environmental sources such as a cooling tower atop a large building, which can become contaminated by the bacteria. South Eastern Sydney local health district public health unit director Vicky Sheppeard said all three of those who contracted the disease have been admitted to hospital. 'People can be exposed to the bacteria if contaminated water particles from a cooling system are emitted into the air and breathed in,' Dr Sheppeard said. 'Legionnaires' disease can develop up to 10 days after exposure. 'Symptoms include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath and may lead to severe chest infections such as pneumonia. 'People who develop this disease are diagnosed by a urine or sputum test and chest X-ray and usually require antibiotic treatment in hospital. 'Those most at risk are elderly people, people with underlying lung or other serious health conditions, and people who smoke.' NSW Health confirmed they were working alongside the City of Sydney and have completed samples of all cooling towers with a 500m radius of the resident's homes. All managers of cooling water systems have been urged to disinfect their systems. 'Building owners should ensure that their cooling towers are operated and maintained in compliance with the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022,' a statement read. The outbreak comes after a previous outbreak of Legionnaires' disease between March and April this year, which infected 12 people and left one dead. NSW Health confirmed 11 were hospitalised during the outbreak and another was treated out of the hospital. All of those infected had spent time in the Sydney CBD between March 13 and April 5. In April, a man in his 50s died from the infection after contracting the disease nearly a month earlier.
News.com.au
19-06-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Urgent health warning after three people contract legionnaires' disease in Potts Point, Sydney
An urgent health warning has been issued for people in an inner Sydney suburb amid several confirmed cases of legionnaires' disease. Three people from Potts Point, aged between their 40s and 70s and unknown to one another, have contracted the disease, NSW Health have confirmed. NSW Health is advising anyone who visited the Potts Point area between June 8 and June 18 to be vigilant and monitor symptoms of the disease. Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection caused by the legionella bacteria, and can trigger symptoms including a fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath. Without treatment, the disease can be fatal. The disease is not spread person to person and can sometimes be caused by environmental sources such as a cooling tower atop a large building, which can become contaminated by the bacteria. South Eastern Sydney local health district public health unit director Vicky Sheppeard said all three of those who contracted the disease have been admitted to hospital. 'People can be exposed to the bacteria if contaminated water particles from a cooling system are emitted into the air and breathed in,' Dr Sheppeard said. 'Legionnaires' disease can develop up to 10 days after exposure. 'Symptoms include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath and may lead to severe chest infections such as pneumonia. 'People who develop this disease are diagnosed by a urine or sputum test and chest X-ray and usually require antibiotic treatment in hospital. 'Those most at risk are elderly people, people with underlying lung or other serious health conditions, and people who smoke.' NSW Health confirmed they were working alongside the City of Sydney and have completed samples of all cooling towers with a 500m radius of the resident's homes. All managers of cooling water systems have been urged to disinfect their systems. 'Building owners should ensure that their cooling towers are operated and maintained in compliance with the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022,' a statement read. The outbreak comes after a previous outbreak of Legionnaires' disease between March and April this year, which infected 12 people and left one dead. NSW Health confirmed 11 were hospitalised during the outbreak and another was treated out of the hospital. All of those infected had spent time in the Sydney CBD between March 13 and April 5. In April, a man in his 50s died from the infection after contracting the disease nearly a month earlier.
