Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Sydney CBD kills one, infects 12
Authorities are probing if a person contracted a deadly disease that has already killed one by driving through Sydney in an open top car.
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A drive through the streets of Sydney in an open-top car may have resulted in a person contracting the deadly Legionnaires’ disease, as authorities race to find the source of the outbreak.
NSW Health has confirmed the illness has infected 12 people, 11 who are currently hospitalised, who had all spent time in the city between March 13 and April 5.
NewsWire understands NSW Health is probing whether one of the patients contracted the disease driving through Sydney in an open top car.
On Thursday, health officials confirmed a man in his 50s died from Legionnaires’ disease last week after contracting it almost a month ago.
His infection is not linked to the open-top car probe.
Legionella bacteria has been found in a cooling tower in the CBD, which is now being decontaminated and subjected to further testing to determine if it was the source of the outbreak.
Anyone who was in the Sydney CBD between this period is advised to stay vigilant of Legionnaires’ disease symptoms, which include chills, coughing, shortness of breath and fever.
It can take up to 10 days for symptoms to appear after exposure to the bacteria, but the disease is not spread from person to person.
“Legionnaires’ disease is caused by infection with Legionella bacteria,” NSW Health’s Doctor Vicky 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 is working closely with the City of Sydney to identify, inspect and sample any cooling towers in the CBD potentially implicated in the outbreak.
“To date, over 165 cooling towers have been inspected and tested,” Dr Sheppeard said.
“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.”
Originally published as Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Sydney CBD kills one, infects 12
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