The Victorian Government has released a health alert providing details on an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in Melbourne.
The health alert states the Department of Health and Human Services have recently identified five cases of Legionnaires’ Disease (Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 1) involving individuals who had spent time in the eastern half of Melbourne’s CBD and/or Southbank. All five cases required the individuals to be treated in hospital, with all of them experiencing an onset of symptoms within a similar timeframe between late March and early April.
The health alert also states that there have been 26 cases of this particular type of Legionnaires’ Disease across Victoria this year, which is an increase of five more cases from the same period last year.
The health alert also states that people over 50, smokers, heavy drinkers, people with chronic medical conditions, and people with an impaired immune system, are most at risk of contracting the Disease. Symptoms are typically influenza-like, and those who suspect that they may have contracted the Disease have been urged to be tested as the Department of Health and Human Services must be notified of any cases.
The health alert also states that the Department of Health and Human Services are currently investigating the five reported cases to identify the possible source of the Disease, with cooling towers in the area currently being sampled and disinfected.
The Victorian Government’s health alert, along with links to other resources on Legionnaires’ Disease, can be found here.
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