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Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Sydney continues

Xinhua, May 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Australian authorities in Sydney are dealing with yet another outbreak of Legionnaires' disease.

Four cases of Legionnaires' have been confirmed in people who had frequented the Burwood area in Sydney's inner west, New South Wales (NSW) state health department officials told Xinhua on Thursday.

Authorities addressed the media on Wednesday advising a person had died from the illness after contracting it in the Burwood area.

NSW Health acting chief health officer Jeremy McAnulty told Xinhua that in response to other recent clusters of Legionnaires' disease, NSW Health, in collaboration with local councils, had inspected and tested all potential sources in the areas common to where three or more cases had visited.

He also noted they had written to all building owners in affected local government areas to remind them of their responsibilities under the Public Health Act to maintain clean cooling towers.

"NSW Health has a Legionella panel comprised of experts in this field which is actively reviewing the recent outbreaks in NSW and considering whether any new measures are required to strengthen prevention and control activities," McAnulty said.

There have been 39 cases of Legionnaires' disease associated with air conditioning and water sources to date in 2016, compared with only 37 cases from January 2015 to the end of May 2015.

"While the total number of cases is not very different to other years, during 2016 there has been increased clustering of cases detected," McAnulty advised.

"This may be at least partly due to active case finding by public health units, adoption of more sensitive patient testing, and increased awareness of Legionnaires' disease among the public and doctors."

Notable Sydney doctor Ginni Mansberg told Xinhua earlier in May there was no need for international travellers heading to Sydney to be concerned.

"There's no evidence like wearing something like a facemask will help either," Mansberg said.

She noted Legionnaires' was not highly contagious and only those with a severely compromised immune system would potentially be at risk if exposed.

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection that inflicts fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath and potentially death on those infected. Endit