The root of Victoria’s fatal legionnaires’ disease outbreak has been identified, and health officials believe it has been contained. After disinfecting scores of homes in Laverton North and neighbouring Derrimut, the cause has been located as a cooling tower in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
“I am hopeful we’ve contained the source of the outbreak,” Chief Health Officer Clare Looker told reporters on Monday. Now that we have this positive finding, we will proceed to measure the amount of legionella in the sample.
“Recent weather patterns could explain the wider than usual dispersal of cases.” A 60-year-old man and a 90-year-old woman died as a result of the outbreak. There were 77 confirmed cases as of Monday. Everyone has been hospitalised.
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by legionella bacteria, which can be found in natural bodies of water, spas, warm water systems, potting mix, and artificial cooling systems. Symptoms may include pneumonia, chest infection, pains, headaches, fever, cough, and chills. Approximately 10% of Legionnaires’ patients died.
Adults over the age of 40 were most at risk, particularly those with other medical issues, those who were immunocompromised, and smokers.
Dr Clare Looker, Victorian Chief Health Officer, stated at a press conference on Monday afternoon that the likely source of the legionnaires outbreak that has plagued metropolitan Melbourne since early July had been identified, with a cooling tower in the Laverton North suburb testing positive for legionella bacteria.
“I can confirm one of the towers we tested and which was subsequently disinfected earlier in our investigation has returned a positive legionella sample,” according to her.
Dr Looker stated that 75 persons have been hospitalised with legionnaires since mid-July.
A guy in his 60s and a woman in her 90s died from the sickness.
Dr Looker, who obtained the favourable results on Sunday night, expressed optimism that the outbreak could be contained. “I’m reassured obviously that we’ve seen the case numbers come down following the intense program we’ve had of disinfection over the last week,” according to her.
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