City Drive Leads to Legionnaires Outbreak: 1 Dead, 12 Infected
It has been disclosed that one of the 12 individuals who got legionnaires’ disease from a cooling tower in the Sydney CBD last month was merely passing through Circular Quay when they became afflicted.
Twelve instances of legionnaires’ disease have been confirmed by NSW Health, all of which involved individuals who were in the Sydney central business district between March 13 and April 5.
A guy in his 50s passed away in a hospital last week, and health officials have expressed their sympathies for his passing.
Before contracting the sickness, the man had preexisting medical issues.
Additional testing is being done to determine whether the Legionella bacteria discovered in a cooling tower in the central business district are the cause of the sickness outbreak.
They are decontaminating the tower.
Since the sick individuals would have been within a 300-meter radius of the tower, NSW Health has decided not to identify the structure in question.
According to NSW Health, one person got the illness while operating an open-top vehicle through Circular Quay.
The symptoms of Legionnaires’ illness, which include fever, chills, coughing, and shortness of breath, have been reported in anyone who was in the Sydney central business district between March 13 and April 5.
Since the pathogen is not contagious, symptoms may manifest up to 10 days after exposure.
Eleven of the twelve afflicted individuals were admitted to the hospital, while one received outpatient treatment.
“Legionnaires’ disease is caused by infection with Legionella bacteria,” stated Vicky Sheppeard, a physician with NSW Health.
“When germs from environmental sources, like cooling towers on top of big buildings, get polluted, outbreaks can occasionally happen.
It doesn’t transmit from one person to another.
“NSW Health and the City of Sydney are still collaborating closely to find, examine, and sample any cooling towers in the central business district that might be connected to the outbreak. More than 165 cooling towers have undergone testing and inspection to date.
“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.”
Anyone who feels ill should see the emergency room or their general practitioner for medical advice.
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