Summary
- Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Melbourne has exceeded 100 confirmed cases with 10 suspected cases as of July 26.
- Patients infected with the bacteria have required hospitalization, with some needing intensive care for severe pneumonia.
- Two individuals, a 90-year-old woman and a man in his 60s, have died in hospital due to the outbreak.
- Genomic sequencing results have identified and treated the source of the outbreak as being linked to a cooling tower in Laverton North in Melbourne’s west.
- Legionnaires’ disease can cause symptoms such as chest infection, fever, cough, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion. It is spread through water sources like cooling towers and is not typically transmitted person-to-person.
An outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in Melbourne has reached over 100 cases, according to a recent update from the Victorian Department of Health. Most of the cases have been confirmed in adults over the age of 40, with many requiring hospitalization and intensive care. Tragically, two individuals have died as a result of the outbreak. The source of the outbreak has been identified as a cooling tower in Laverton North, which has been treated to prevent further infections.
Legionnaires’ disease can cause symptoms such as fever, chest infection, cough, and muscle aches. The bacteria that causes the disease are commonly found in natural bodies of water, as well as in artificial systems like cooling towers. Although the disease is not easily spread from person to person or from drinking contaminated water, the outbreak in Melbourne has primarily affected individuals who are at higher risk due to factors like age, smoking, or underlying health conditions. Health officials have confirmed that they have successfully treated the source of the outbreak, offering hope for controlling further spread and preventing more cases.
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Infectious Diseases, Public Health & Prevention, Emergency Medicine