Three confirmed cases of legionnaires disease in Lidcombe leads to health warning
Three people who spent time in Lidcombe have contracted legionnaires. A warning has now gone out to others in the area to watch for the symptoms.
Parramatta
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A legionnaires disease warning has been issued for people who live or have recently been to Lidcombe’s industrial area. Three people have presented to hospital with similar symptoms, all three confirming they had spent time in the Lidcombe area.
The director of the public health unit for Western Sydney Local Health District, Dr Shopna Bag, said anyone recently in the area who develops symptoms of legionnaires disease, including fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath, should visit their doctor.
“Legionnaires disease cannot be spread from person to person,” Dr Bag said.
“All three cases contracted the infection from breathing in legionella pneumophila bacteria
which is found in water sources such as cooling towers.
“Symptoms of legionnaires disease can develop up to 10 days from the time of exposure to
contaminated water particles in the air.”
The health district’s investigation team found that bacteria that causes the disease in a building’s cooling system.
“The business owners in the building immediately carried out an emergency decontamination and cleaned the system,” Dr Bag said.
“The district’s investigation team has since undertaken extensive work to look for other
possible sources of legionella pneumophila bacteria in the area.”
SYMPTOMS
-Headache
-Muscle pain
-Chills
-Fever that may be 40 degrees or higher
-Shortness of breath
-Chest pain
-Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
-Confusion or other mental changes