Legionnaire’s disease: Laverton North cooling tower identified as likely source- as disease spreads across Melbourne
Health authorities have identified the likely source of the Legionella outbreak, which has left two people dead and nearly 90 people dead.
Melbourne is battling its worst outbreak of the disease in 24 years, with 77 confirmed and nine suspected cases.
Tests have now identified a cooling tower in Laverton North in Melbourne’s west as the likely source.
“I can confirm that one of the towers we tested, and subsequently disinfected at an early stage of our investigation, returned a positive Legionella sample,” said Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Clare Looker.
“This gives us more confidence that we have identified and already treated the source of this outbreak.”
The exact location of the Laverton North cooling tower has not yet been released by authorities due to the ongoing investigation.
Mrs Looker assured that the cooling tower met the testing and audit requirements very well.
‘Of course we are open to the question of whether there is a process disruption, but until we have further details on that, it is difficult to speculate on the next steps that are needed.’
Melbourne faces deadliest Legionella outbreak in 24 years (stock image)
It comes a day after a man became the second resident in less than a week to die from the disease.
He contracted the disease on July 27 and died in hospital on Sunday.
His death follows the death of a woman in her 90s last Tuesday.
The outbreak is the worst in the city since the deadly outbreak at the Melbourne Aquarium in 2000, which infected at least 125 people, four of whom died.
Most of the identified cases are adults over 40 years of age, and about 75 percent of them have been hospitalized because of the infection.
“I can confirm that we have received no reports of any further deaths,” Ms Looker said.
“I am confident that we are now past the peak of the number of cases associated with this outbreak.”
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by a bacterium called Legionella.
Authorities have identified a cooling tower in Melbourne’s west as the most likely source. Pictured is Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Clare Looker
An outbreak of Legionella disease in Melbourne has left two people dead and nearly 90 people sick
In most cases, the disease can be attributed to inhaling microscopic water droplets containing the bacteria. Rarely, the disease is transmitted from person to person.
Legionella has been associated with the growth of cooling towers, air conditioning units, hot water tanks, water features, drinking water, swimming pools and hot tubs.
Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, headache and muscle aches, the state health department said in a statement.
‘Other atypical symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion.’
People who live, work or have been in the Melbourne metropolitan area and are showing symptoms are urged to seek medical attention and get tested as soon as possible.