WATER coolers in the Sydney CBD have become potential sources of a deadly infection as an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease sweeps the city’s bustling business hub.
Council and public health workers will be inspecting dozens of cooling towers as one person fights for life and two others remain hospitalised since contracting the infection in the past week.
The outbreak follows another in March, which saw an elderly man die from the disease.
NSW Health has said there is no obvious link between the two outbreaks, but investigations are continuing.
Legionnaire’s disease causes a type of pneumonia that infiltrates the lungs after breathing in contaminated water vapour or dust. Outbreaks can be associated with contaminated airconditioning systems in large buildings.
The health department’s director of communicable disease Vicky Sheppeard said people who had been exposed could have symptoms already, or develop them over the next week.
“People who have recently lived, visited or worked in the Sydney CBD (concentrating on the blocks bound by Margaret, Kent, Kind and George streets) and develop symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease should visit their GP,” Dr Sheppeard said.
“The bacteria that cause this type of Legionnaires’ disease live in water and can multiply in the water used to cool air conditioning systems.
“People can be exposed to the bacteria when a water cooling tower — that is typically located on the roof of a building — emits contaminated water vapour into the air that can then drift down onto the outside street.”
WHAT IS LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE?
A type of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection in the lungs.
HOW DO YOU GET IT?
It occurs when a person breaths in contaminated vapour or dust. The bacteria grows in stagnant water and is commonly associated with contaminated cooling towers that are part of air conditioning systems in large buildings.
WHO IS AT RISK?
Middle-aged and older people are most at risk, particularly those who smoke or have chronic lung disease.
People whose immune systems are suppressed by medication or diseases like cancer or diabetes are also at higher risk.
WHAT’S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Legionnaires’ disease can cause death, though most people recover.
Fever, chills, cough and shortness of breath are among common symptoms. Some people experience muscle aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhoea, and can become sick with pneumonia.
HOW IS IT TREATED?
Legionnaires’ disease can usually be cured by treatment with antibiotics, and some patients may need to receive intensive care.
HOW IS IT PREVENTED?
Regular inspection, disinfection and maintenance of cooling towers and plumbing systems limits growth.
Hospitals are required to notify cases of the disease to public health units. Council and public health workers will have notified the public of this outbreak, and will assess possible sources of infection and clean them if necessary.
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