SYDNEY, April 17 (Xinhua) -- A person has died and 12 others have been infected after contracting Legionnaires' disease in an outbreak linked to central Sydney, the Department of Health in the state of New South Wales said on Thursday.

There are now 12 confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease in people who spent time in central Sydney between March 13 and April 5, up from the six cases that had been diagnosed as of April 10, the department said.

It said that one of the confirmed cases died in hospital. Of the 12 reported cases, 11 have been hospitalized for treatment.

NSW Health on Thursday urged anyone who spent time in central Sydney and surrounds in late March or early April to be aware of symptoms of Legionnaires' disease, including fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath.

Legionnaires' disease is a form of pneumonia caused by infection with Legionella bacteria, which is found naturally in fresh water. NSW Health said that symptoms can develop up to 10 days after exposure.

"Outbreaks sometimes occur when bacteria from environmental sources such as cooling towers atop large buildings become contaminated," Vicky Sheppeard, director of the southeast Sydney local public health unit, said in a statement.

"NSW Health continues to work closely with the City of Sydney to identify, inspect and sample any cooling towers in the CBD potentially implicated in the outbreak. To date, over 165 cooling towers have been inspected and tested," she said.

According to the World Health Organization, the Legionnaires' disease mortality rate can be as high as 80 percent in untreated immuno-suppressed patients. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)