Melbourne Legionnaires’ outbreak: 100 cases now confirmed

The outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease has reached a new milestone following the deaths of two people.

The number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease have reached a new height of 100 as the outbreak continues to spread in Melbourne.

A Victorian Department of Health update overnight says there have now been 100 confirmed and 10 suspected cases up to July 26, mostly in adults aged over 40.

Most people who have been infected with the bacteria have needed to go to hospital, and those with severe community acquired pneumonia needed intensive care.

A 90-year-old woman and a man in his 60s have died in hospital since the outbreak started in Melbourne’s west.

Some active and normally healthy adults have been struck down with an infection. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

All the infected people lived in or had visited the Melbourne metro area, the health department said.

The outbreak likely came from a cooling tower in Derrimut or North Laverton. Authorities have tested hundreds of towers and disinfected 70 so far. Testing is ongoing.

Legionnaires’ disease can cause a chest infection with a fever, chills, cough, headache and muscle aches and pains. Other atypical symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and confusion.

The bacteria that causes the disease are widespread in the environment. They are found in natural bodies of water like rivers, lakes, creeks and hot springs. They are also found in spas, warm water systems and artificial systems that use water for cooling, heating or industrial processes such as cooling towers, as well as potting mix.

Victoria’s chief health officer Clare Looker last week said she hoped she’d seen the ‘tail’ of infections. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

Only a few people who come into contact with the bacteria become infected.

In this outbreak, most cases are arising in people who are normally at greater risk of the infection, with factors such as being aged over 40, being a smoker, having a chronic lung disease or a weakened immune system and other underlying conditions like chronic heart, liver or kidney disease and diabetes.

However, there were also cases in otherwise active and normally healthy adults, the health department said.

The bacteria is not commonly spread person-to-person or from drinking contaminated water.