5th May 2000

TEST results released yesterday provided "overwhelming" evidence that the
Melbourne Aquarium was the source of Australia's largest legionella outbreak,
Victorian health authorities said.

Levels of potentially deadly legionella bacteria in the aquarium's airconditioning cooling towers were more than six times the amount considered to be high-risk.

As the aquarium began talks with its insurers over possible compensation claims arising from the outbreak, the number of confirmed cases of infection reached 66.

Of a further 41 people suspected of carrying the disease, 13 are from outside
Victoria, including one from the US, two from New Zealand, and one from Britain.

The epidemic has killed two elderly Victorian women and eight people remain in critical condition in Melbourne hospitals.

All but one of the victims had visited the aquarium between April 11 and 25. The other had walked close by.
The cooling towers were disinfected last Thursday.

These laboratory findings confirm the strong epidemiological link that we had
found," said John Carnie, head of communicable diseases at the Victorian
Department of Human Services.

Legionella expert Vyt Garnys, engaged by the aquarium to conduct an investigation into the outbreak, said existing Victorian guidelines  requiring cooling towers to be tested for bacteria levels monthly – were inadequate.

Despite yesterday's results, Dr Garnys said he would continue to investigate
external sources of the bacteria as he believed there were "abnormal" levels of dust in the aquarium's vicinity last month.

WHY THE HELL DO WE ALWAYS TRY TO BLAME SOMETHING ELSE WHEN THINGS GO WRONG..............MY OPINION MY RIGHT TO HAVE ONE

EMAIL ME With Yours
Denis
legion@q-net.net.au

Read my page at

http://www.q-net.net.au/~legion/Whats_Hells_a_Matter_with_Sydney.html

Thursday, May 4, 2000.
POSITIVE TEST RESULTS ON AQUARIUM TOWERS

Laboratory test results have confirmed the presence of legionella bacteria in the cooling towers of the Melbourne Aquarium at the  time Australia's largest-ever outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease came to light last month.

The Communicable Diseases Manager of the Human Services Department, Dr John Carnie, said bacteria cultures from the samples taken from the towers on April 27 had been grown in a laboratory for the past week, and the presence of legionella.

Sixty-six people have now been confirmed with the disease, including two women who have died.

Dr Carnie said the epidemiological evidence had established a strong link with the aquarium, with all but one of the affected people having visited it in the period before the outbreak. The other person walked past.

He said the laboratory results received today backed up the epidemiological evidence, and the Department was now satisfied as to the source of the Legionnaires' Disease.

The results show Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 - the same type which affected all the patients.

"Department scientists will take weekly samples from the aquarium cooling towers for analysis until we are satisfied that any problems have been rectified," Dr Carnie said.

He said nine of the 66 patients confirmed with the disease were in a critical condition in hospital.

The Department is awaiting test results on a further 41 people who had been to the aquarium and who have developed respiratory illness symptoms. They include two patients from Queensland, two from New Zealand, three from NSW, one from the United
States, four from Tasmania and one from the United Kingdom.

We would expect the number of cases from this outbreak to start tapering off now," Dr Carnie said.

The cooling towers were disinfected immediately the aquarium was identified as the likely cause of the outbreak on April 27.
The incubation period for this illness is from two to 10 days, so most people who could have been infected should have shown up by now.

"The media has been a great help in alerting the community to this outbreak, so hopefully any people who have developed flu-like symptoms and have any concerns will have seen their doctor already."

The DHS Legionnaires' Disease hotline on 1300 365 677 is also available to give advice to people with any concerns about the illness.

High risk groups in the community are people aged over 50, heavy smokers, heavy drinkers, diabetics, people with chronic lung disease and those with impaired body defences.

Regulations require cooling towers, warm water systems and public spas to be maintained and disinfected regularly.

Australia's previous big outbreak was at Wollongong in 1987, when 44 people were infected and 10 died. No source was ever identified.

The details of the patients who have contracted Legionnaires` Disease as at
4/5/00 are:

Media inquiries:
Bram Alexander, Human Services Department Media Unit 9616 8803.
Graeme Walker, Human Services Department Media Unit 9616 7296.
Internet: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/hs.html

Source...VictorianHuman Services Department 

Aquarium confirmed as source

LEGIONNAIRES' OUTBREAK
 Thursday 4 May 2000

Laboratory testing has confirmed the Melbourne Aquarium as the source of Australia's biggest outbreak of legionnaires' disease.

The Victorian Department of Human Services said this afternoon the number of
confirmed cases had risen to 66 people. All but one had been infected after visiting the aquarium.

Two elderly women have died from the outbreak. One person had contracted the illness after walking past the building, the department's communicable diseases manager, Dr John Carnie, said.

The department is waiting for test results from a further 41 people who had been to the aquarium and developed respiratory illnesses, he said. Thirteen of those people were from interstate or overseas.

Because of publicity about the outbreak, overseas health departments in the UK and America were monitoring two tourists who had visited the aquarium.

Another two people in New Zealand, four in Tasmania, three in New South Wales and two in Queensland may also have been affected, he said.

Dr Carnie said the infection of a worker in the Melbourne Central shopping centre was unrelated to the aquarium outbreak.

"There is no outbreak at Diamaru. There is absolutely no outbreak related to that site.
There is one case that happens to work there. That case is not linked with any others," Dr Carnie said.

After testing neighboring sites, the department did not believe any other building in the vicinity of the aquarium could have been responsible for the outbreak, he said.

"How the towers became infected is open to speculation," he said.

Health officials would be meeting the aquarium management this afternoon to
determine what ongoing monitoring was required, he said.

Melbourne Aquarium's acting general manager, Tom Smith, told reporters this
afternoon management at the facility were devastated by the outbreak and were
deeply saddened for the victims.

When asked if he thought the present regulatory frame work for legionella testing in cooling systems was adequate, Mr Smith said: "You'd have to draw you own conclusions from that but when you think about the fact that we've adhered to all the guidelines and safety regulations currently in place and this has still occurred then obviously the working party that has been mooted by the government is probably timely and appropriate to review the guidelines."

Mr Smith said the aquarium had notified its insurers in relation to claims for
compensation but would not be drawn on whether the aquarium would move to
compensate victims. 

The number of confirmed cases of Legionnaires` Disease linked to the Melbourne Aquarium has jumped to 58.

The Victorian Human Services Department says there are also 35 suspected cases of the disease, including some overseas.

Two people have already died as a result of Australia's biggest
legionnella outbreak.

The Human Services Department this afternoon released the latest list of cases.

The department's John Carnie says one of the newpatients visited the aquarium on April 25.

All the rest were at or near the site between April 11 and 21. Nine are still in a critical condition.

He says the department is awaiting test results on a further 35 people who visited the aquarium.

They include two patients from New Zealand, one from the United Kingdom, two from New South Wales, four from Tasmania and one from Queensland.

But Dr Carnie stresses more than90 per cent of the people concerned about the disease have been given the all clear.

He says test results on water samples from the aquarium's cooling towers have not been finalised.

Chris Quirk, 40, is in the  Palmerston North Public Hospital on New Zealand's North Island with symptoms of the disease, after visiting the aquarium.

Health officials in the town, which has a direct air link to Melbourne, have issued a wider alert to anyone with symptoms who had travelled to Melbourne and visited the aquarium to be tested.

The department says the results of tests for the legionella bacteria at the aquarium should be available tomorrow.
 

PM concern

Prime Minister John Howard has expressed his concern about the health of people who have contracted legionnaire's disease, after visiting the aquarium last month.

He has also expressed sorrow that two people have died.

But Mr Howard says he is not concerned about his own health, or that of his wife, who both visited the aquarium in April.

But I am distressed to hear about the people who have been affected and I wish them well.

I'm sorry to learn of the two deaths of the older people, I certainly hope there's no recurrence of that.

Source ABC News

Melbourne's killer disease  has spread overseas, striking down two victims in New Zealand and another in England. Forty-seven people have been hit by Legionnaires` disease and 39 more face an anxious wait for test results.
Two of the overseas victims visited the Melbourne Aquarium and the other is believed to have caught Legionnaires` while standing 20m from the building.

In other developments yesterday: A government test revealed a 400 per cent rise in bacteria in the aquarium's air-conditioning cooling towers on 27th. April  2000  the day the contamination became known. The towers have been given the all-clear by health authorities.
At least two victims caught the disease near the aquarium without entering the building. Nine Victorians are now critically ill.

Six hundred people have given samples after becoming concerned they have Legionnaires` disease. 

Private labs are running out of urine testing solution,  there is a commercially available urinary antigen test for  Legionella pneumophila  serogroup 1 which is the most common etiologic agent of legionellosis

Health authorities confirmed last night a woman, 74, is in a British hospital with suspected Legionnaire's disease. Another Briton, a 69-year-old male tourist, is among confirmed victims in hospital in Victoria. A man, 40, is in a New Zealand hospital with the disease and another New Zealander, 16, is believed to be infected.

The New Zealander confirmed with the disease , is on an intravenous drip [for antibiotic administration] in New Zealand's Palmerston North Public Hospital.
His sister, said her brother did not enter the aquarium but stood 20m away under a viaduct. She said he became ill a few days after returning to New Zealand on 18th.  April  2000. 

The 16-year-old New Zealander suspected of having the disease visited the aquarium and returned home last week, vomiting and suffering from chronic tiredness.

It has also been revealed a St Kilda East man, 26, who is in a critical condition, caught Disease while walking past the aquarium.

On the  27th. April  2000 Human Services Department test found a 400 per cent rise in the level of bacteria in a month. The level rose from under 1000 forming [colony-forming] units per millilitre to 30,000-40,000. The April 27th  sample results were sent to the aquarium management last night.
The aquarium's biological consultant, Dr Vyt Garnys, said the rise may be due to outside causes.

It might be an external event which caused it, he said.It may be some mild event that may have occurred.

Dr Garnys said the CFU figure was far below the allowable risk level of 500,000 CFU.

Speculation on an external cause of the outbreak follows reports that dust at a viaduct worksite near the aquarium may have entered the air-conditioning.
A Federation Square worker with Legionnaires` who has never visited the aquarium has come out of intensive care at Monash Medical Centre.

Source Media 4th. May 2000

Special  Note

The recent posting on the Legionnaire's outbreak may be misleading. The
posting reports that the colony count on the suspect water tower rose by
400% (from <1000 cfu/ml, to about 40 000 cfu/ml) around the period of the
outbreak. The aquarium's biological consultant comments that this is well
below the allowable limit of 500 000 cfu/ml.

The way the story is written (the posting comes from an edited newspaper
article) implies that these counts refer to the number of _Legionella_
organisms present. This is almost definitely not the case, and it is most
likely that these counts refer to the total bacterial counts.

Mr Stephen Tristram
Lecturer in Medical Microbiology
School of Biomedical Science
University of Tasmania at Launceston

5th. May 2000

The number of people confirmed with Legionnaires' Disease from an outbreak associated with the Melbourne Aquarium has now  reached 58.

The Communicable Diseases Manager of the Human Services Department, Dr John Carnie, said the people, including two women who died, were all aged from 26 to 89.

All but one of the patients - nine of them in a critical condition - had been at or near the aquarium between April 11 and 21. One of the new patients attended the aquarium on April 25.

Dr Carnie thanked the media for its support in alerting concerned people to promptly see their local doctor .
As a result of this early warning, six of the recent confirmed cases sought prompt treatment and have not required hospitalisation," he said.

"They have suffered mild effects of the disease, and have been able to remain at home and receive treatment through their hospital outpatients service."

Dr Carnie said the Department was awaiting test results on a further 35 people who had been to the aquarium and who have developed respiratory illness symptoms. They include two patients from New Zealand, one from the United Kingdom, two from NSW, four from Tasmania and one from Queensland.

Dr Carnie said pathology laboratories have finalised results on urine samples provided by more than 1800 people who were
concerned they may have been exposed to the disease, including the 58 confirmed cases. A further 700 tests are pending.

This means that more than 90 per cent of people who had concerns have been given the all-clear for Legionnaires' Disease, he
said.

Dr Carnie said test results on water samples taken from the Melbourne Aquarium's cooling towers had still not been finalised. The
aquarium's cooling towers were also disinfected as soon as the Legionnaires' Disease cases were detected.

High risk groups in the community are people aged over 50, heavy smokers, heavy drinkers, diabetics, people with chronic lung disease and those with impaired body defences.
Infection is acquired through breathing in very fine droplets of water which contain the bacteria, such as spray drifts which are vented off from the towers. Thorough decontamination and cleaning of infected towers should eliminate the risk.

The illness causes flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, followed by respiratory problems and
pneumonia developed over three or four days. Onset can be up to 10 days after the initial contact with the bacteria.

Regulations require cooling towers, warm water systems and public spas to be maintained and disinfected regularly.

Dr Carnie said the Department was satisfied that the required maintenance and sampling of the cooling towers at the aquarium had been carried out. He said the records showed that a total bacteria sample was taken on March 15, and returned a very low count of bacteria.

May 2nd 2000

Legionnaires` numbers jump to  nearly 50

The number of people testing  positive to an outbreak of  legionnaires` disease linked to the  Melbourne Aquarium has jumped by 10.

 The outbreak from the cooling towers at the aquarium has left  two people dead and 47 with the disease.

The number of victims still critical remains at eight.
The aquarium has hired two  experts on the legionella bacterium to try to pinpoint the cause.

One of the experts, Vyt Garnys, says so far he has found no evidence the aquarium was the source and the bacteria may have come from  outside the building.

But Dr Garnys admits we may never  know what caused the outbreak.
I will keep pursuing it until we eke out the last bit of evidence,
There is a remote possibility we won't find it. I think there is a  possibility we will find it.

I always look on the bright side and say with all the tools that we have at  our disposal, there's a chance that  we will find the cause.

 Victorian Health Minister John Thwaites says he is very  concerned the disease is spreading and the full extent of  the outbreak will not be known until more people are  tested.

Our priority is to ensure there is proper treatment for those people and that anyone who is at risk gets to a  doctor and gets the treatment they need," he said.

The Human Services Department says those at risk would have attended the aquarium between April 11 to 22.

The aquarium is yet to concede its cooling towers are the  source of Victoria's worst legionnaire's outbreak.
The aquarium has acknowledged it will go beyond national  standards for testing legionnaire's - it will test its cooling  towers for the bacterium every fortnight.

Source..Media

May 1st. 2000
 Legionnaire's outbreak sourced to aquarium

The Victorian outbreak of legionnaire's disease that has claimed two lives
and another 37 confirmed cases has prompted questions about the adequacy of government regulations on  airconditioning cooling towers around Australia.

The source of infection was the airconditioning at  the recently opened aquarium on the banks of the Yarra River.

While all those in hospital are expected to pull  through, the Melbourne outbreak is the worst since 10 people died in Wollongong in 1987.

The regulations that  govern the cleaning of cooling towers still fall far  short of guaranteeing public safety.

VICTORIAN HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT:
The number of confirmed cases of  legionnaire's disease in the current outbreak is now 50.

 AQUARIUM Spokesman:
We're  absolutely devastated that this building has potentially caused such heartache and grief in the community.

 Our sympathies go out to the families directly  affected.

 Seriously ill in a Melbourne hospital, Rafael Gallardo is among a mounting  number of victims from one of the country's worst outbreaks of legionnaires` disease.

 Of the 50 confirmed cases, two elderly women have died and eight people remain critically ill.
Another 32 are suspected of being infected with the  disease after visiting the Melbourne aquarium  between April 11th and the 21st.

 Three of those to fall victim come from Tasmania and one each from Queensland and WA.

NEIL PATRUCCO, WEST AUSTRALIAN LIBERAL:
My concern about the situation is that the technology that we have today should have prevented it.

Senior West Australian Liberal Neil Patrucco fell ill after joining the PM and hundreds of party figures at a reception held at the aquarium during the Liberals' national convention in Melbourne.

 JOHN HOWARD: I'd better talk to a doctor and find out, but I feel OK.

I've got a bit of a cold, but that's got nothing to do  with legionnaires` disease.

While the PM's health is apparently fine, the Victorian Opposition Leader,  Denis Napthine, has undergone tests for the bacteria after experiencing symptoms.

With urine samples from across the country still to be tested, the number of infections could still rise, but at the moment the Victorian epidemic is yet to surpass the country's worst, an outbreak in Wollongong in 1987 in which 44 people fell ill and 10  died.

The question everyone is asking, why an outbreak  would occur in a brand-new building.

LES WILLMOTT, PLUMBERS UNION:
Normally legionnaires` is considered rife when a building is old,  the water's been stagnant for some time and it  hasn't been treated.
This is a brand-new job, where the cooling tower  has just been installed.

PERSONAL NOTE
LES.............BEFORE YOU MAKE SUCH COMMENTS AS YOU MADE HERE..CHECK YOUR FACTS..THAT GOES FOR THE MINISTER AS WELL..DONT PLAY THE GAME TILL YOU KNOW ALL THE FACTS

THIS ONES FOR YOU LES

MERSEY HEALTH AUTHORITY ON NOVEMBER 5th 1991 DEFENDED ITS DECISION TO KEEP QUIET ABOUT AN OUTBREAK OF LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE AT A $6 MILLIONUNIT OPENED FOUR MONTHS BEFORE.
(GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER, NOVEMBER 6th 1991)

****(WHY)*****

 DR JOHN CARNIE: The edge of the cooling tower is  really not the issue.
Cooling towers, by their very nature, provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.

 They have moisture and moisture at the right temperature.

So the age of the cooling tower doesn't really factor into this equation.

 Legionella bacteria occurs naturally in the environment in pools of water with a temperaturebetween 20 and 45 degrees.

Legionella can't be completely eradicated, so the best way to control it is through regular maintenance and cleaning of systems.

According to the Department of Human  Services, they've looked at our system and said  they're above the Australian standards.

 In Victoria, the owners of airconditioning systems must meet state regulations which require at least monthly inspection of cooling towers, regular water treatment, at least monthly microbiological testing of tower water and complete  cleaning and disinfection of the tower every three  to six months.

We know that every month since this facility was commissioned, the towers have been tested.

The documentation does exist.

LETS SEE IT THEN

 So it's commissioned in January, tested in February, March and April.

 We've abided by everything that needs to be done, in fact gone beyond that.

 The answer has to be -- if it is the towers here at  the Melbourne Aquarium, why?

 While companies operate under similar guidelines in each State, lawyers representing the victims have questioned the adequacy of a  monitoring system which relies on self-regulation.

EUGENE AROCCA, MAURICE BLACKBURN CASHMAN:
My understanding is that the level of inspections carried out by the Government over the last four or five years has fallen right away.
In fact, many inspectors have been put off.

CAN WE GET THIS CONFIRMED SOMEONE

We take a view that self-regulation is a recipe for disaster.

The Victorian Human Services Department claims company compliance is high, but  fines for breaches are only small.
It admits the guidelines need toughening up and is considering recommendations of a working party set  up by the new Health Minister last October.

I wouldn't say that the guidelines have failed because, as I've said before, guidelines and regulations and so on can only minimise but never completely eliminate the risk.

But it's cold comfort to thefamilies of the two people who have died and many others who are seriously ill.

DR JOHN CARNIE: One of the things to remember is  the fact there are about 10,000 cooling towers in  Melbourne.

As I said, the bacteria are found everywhere.

 The numbers of cases that are actually reported  every year indicate that they're only a small minority of people exposed to these things who actually get  the disease.

SOURCE... MEDIA + MY COMMENTS

Tuesday, May 2, 2000.

 FORTY-SEVEN CASES OF LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE

The number of people confirmed with Legionnaires' Disease from an outbreak associated with the Melbourne Aquarium has now reached 47.

The Communicable Diseases Manager of the Human Services Department, Dr John Carnie, said the people, including two women who died, were all aged from 26 to 89.

The patients - nine of them in a critical condition - had all been at or near the aquarium between April 11 and 21.

Dr Carnie thanked the media for its support in alerting concerned people to promptly see their local doctor or call the DHS
Legionnaires' Disease hotline on 1300 365 677.

"As a result of this early warning, five of the recent confirmed cases sought prompt treatment and have not required hospitalisation," he said.

"They have suffered mild effects of the disease, and have been able to remain at home and receive treatment through theirhospital outpatients service."

Of the 47 people confirmed with the disease, 46 had visited the aquarium. The other person, a man, 26, had walked close by.

Dr Carnie said the Department was awaiting test results on a further 39 people who had been to the aquarium and who have
developed respiratory illness symptoms. They include two patients from NSW, three from Tasmania, one from Western Australia and one from Queensland.

Dr Carnie said pathology laboratories have finalised results on urine samples provided by more than 600 people who were concerned they may have been exposed to the disease, including the 47 confirmed cases.

This means that more than 90 per cent of people who had concerns have been given the all-clear for Legionnaires' Disease, he said.

Dr Carnie said test results on water samples taken from the Melbourne Aquarium's cooling towers had still not been finalised.
The aquarium's cooling towers were also disinfected as soon as the Legionnaires' Disease cases were detected.

37 disease cases confirmed

May 01 2000 16:29:08

The legionnaires' disease outbreak in Victoria has escalated further with another
eight people today confirmed to have contracted legionnaires' disease and another
seven suspected cases.

The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 37 people, with another 32 people
possibly infected.

All the confirmed cases involve people who visited the Melbourne Aquarium before 21
April, with one possible case a man who had simply been near the facility.

The legionella bacteria exists naturally in the soil and water, but can multiply to
dangerous levels in conditions such as those found in some air-conditioning units.

Graeme Walker from the Department of Human Services said the legionella bacteria can stay in the body incubating for up to 10 days and as the cooling towers of the
aquarium were treated on May 27 more cases were possible until April 7.

The Communicable Diseases Manager of the Human Services Department, Dr John Carnie, said males aged over 50, heavy smokers or drinkers, diabetics, and people with weak immune systems were most at risk.

"Legionnaires' disease is not an illness which readily affects younger people, so
parents should not be concerned if their children have recently visited the
aquarium," he said.

Melbourne's outbreak now threatens to overtake an epidemic in Wollongong in 1987,
where there were 44 cases of the disease and 10 people died.

This story  at:
http://www.theage.com.au/frontpage/20000501/A34900-2000May1.html

Victoria's outbreak of legionnaires' disease, which has claimed two lives,

continues to grow as 12 more patients were today confirmed with the illness.

What we have as of this morning is a total of 29 cases of legionnaires' disease who have visited the (Melbourne) aquarium, A state health department spokesman  told reporters.
Of these, eight patients remain in a critical condition.
No more deaths had occurred as a result of the outbreak beyond the two reported yesterday.

The confirmed cases included 14 men and 15 women ranging in age from 26 to
89 years, A further 27 related cases are suspected, including two in Tasmania, one in Queensland and one in Western Australia,
 

New South Wales health authorities said none of eight cases reported in NSW
in the past two months were connected to the Victorian epidemic.

But a spokesman for NSW Health Minister  said the state was bracing for more cases.
NSW Health officials expect to have some cases from that aquarium outbreak because it was such a tightly enclosed space and so many people have been through there  mainly tourists, the spokesman said.

The number of people affected made the current outbreak Victoria's biggest.
 But by far the largest (in Australia) was in Wollongong in 1987 where there were 44 cases and 10 deaths.

Dr Carnie said community alarm over the outbreak should be tempered by the
knowledge that cases were only now emerging that had been exposed to the
bacteria at the aquarium between April 11 and 21.  There is no ongoing
transmission. This is not a disease that is transmitted from person to person ... The exposure has been at the aquarium. The disease can take up to two weeks to incubate and emerges with flu-like symptoms.

The aquarium cooling towers had been cleaned twice and would be tested again tomorrow, but test results take eight to 10 days, so no results were available yet.

The frequency of maintenance and the frequency of cleaning, and so on, is one of the issues that we would be looking at in terms of new regulations,
 

Meanwhile, the state government is considering a tougher system of inspections to halt the rise in legionnaires' cases in Victoria in the past five or six years. Health Minister John Thwaites today said it was unacceptable that visitors to a new building could be exposed to the disease.

It is not acceptable to have a situation where people going into a newbuilding can become exposed in this way, Mr Thwaites told reporters.
...Most of the problem with legionellosis in the past has been associated with older cooling towers, where there had been a problem with maintenance. In this case, we have a new building and we have to get to the bottom of how this could have occurred with a new building.

IT SEEMS SOMEONE NEED TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER..NEW COOLING TOWERS HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH OUTBREAKS..NEW TOWERS CAN BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN OLD
 

The government had established a working party to advise on how the incidence of  Legionella  infection could be reduced.
Mr Thwaites said he was not satisfied with the regulations governing maintenance of the 10000-odd water cooling towers around Melbourne.

We also need to look at toughening up the regulatory framework for legionellosis - we need to look at whether more inspections and better auditing is required. I'm not satisfied with the regulatory framework which has been in place. I don't believe the regulations are tough enough, and that's why I've set up a committee to get that expert advice.

Source Media 1 May 2000

11 new cases of legionnaires` disease confirmed

Victorian health authorities have confirmed 11 new cases of legionnaire's disease, taking the totalnumber of cases linked to the Melbourne Aquarium to 29.

The number of suspected cases has also increased.

The Human Services Department says 14 men and 15 women from Victoria have contracted legionnaires` disease after visiting the aquarium in recent weeks.

Two of the women have died as a result and eight people are described as being in a critical condition.

A further 27 people have been tested for the disease - including one from Western Australia, one from Queensland and two from Tasmania.

The department's Dr John Carnie says most of the new cases have been caught in the early stages.

Early detection means a better prognosis:

The number of people affected has made this the second worst outbreak in
Australia's history.

Source..... ABC NEWS 30th April 2000

Disease sparks national alarm

By KRISTINE GOUGH

29th. April 2000

A NATIONWIDE health alert was issued yesterday over the outbreak of Legionnaires` disease at Melbourne's new aquarium.

Three more people were confirmed to have contracted the disease, taking the total number of victims to seven. Last night three were in intensive care, two were critical and two were recovering.

Doctors across Australia were advised of the outbreak by Victorian health department officials who fear more victims will soon emerge.

They appealed to the estimated 10,000 people who were exposed to the bacteria to seek medical help if they developed respiratory problems.

John Howard, his wife Janette and other senior Liberal politicians were also at risk after visiting the aquarium on April 14.

No Liberal politicians have reported any symptoms.

A 58-year-old man and two women, aged 61 and 79, were in intensive care last night after tests confirmed that they were infected. All had visited the aquarium between April 15 and 18.

Of the four others in hospital, an 88-year-old man and 65-year-old woman remain critical.

John Carnie, head of Communicable Diseases at the Department of Human Services, said the large number of people who had visited the aquarium during the school-holiday period meant more cases were likely.

"It is a significant number and it's clearly something that we are most concerned about," said Dr Carnie.

The source of the outbreak was traced to the aquarium's cooling towers on Thursday after victims and their families were questioned about their movements over the past two weeks. The disease, which often begins with flu-like symptoms, has an incubation period of 10 days.

All Victorian doctors have been notified and an Australia-wide alert has been issued through the communicable diseases network.

Dr Carnie said a decontamination team was sent to the aquarium almost immediately and the bacteria were eliminated. There was no need for the aquarium to be closed as the disinfectant process was effective immediately.

Although he is still awaiting lab results confirming the bacteria's presence in the tower, Dr Carnie said it was believed spray drift from the tower on the aquarium roof was responsible for the outbreak.

The health department has identified the period of danger as April 13 to 18, meaning potential victims could only now be exhibiting symptoms.

Aquarium general manager Bob Adams said visitor numbers were only slightly down yesterday.

Barbara Hinkins, a Year One teacher at Mont Albert Primary School, said she was happy to take her class to the aquarium yesterday, after the school's principal received assurances from the health department about the site's safety.

Opinion...........Personal recommendations would have been keep the hell out till it had been comfimed it was the cooling towers at the Aquarium Ms Hinkins

A spokesman for the Victorian branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union said remaining work on the aquarium was banned until members received medical checks

My comments in an email

Legionnaires disease finally hits the headlines in Australia Because the Liberal Party members were involved in this outbreak, It hit the Bl**** headlines in papers around Australia, even my states paper (WA)

LEADING LIBERALS IN AIR DISEASE SCARE..........WOW

Niel Patrucco president of the party`s Stirling division was diagnosed with Legionnaires disease yesterday after he was admitted to Joondalup Health Campus on Sunday, He had earlier been diagnosed with Pneumonia.

Source West Australian Newspaper..Headlines....

Normally its gets two lines in center of the paper

I wont say what I am thinking..you all work it out

Seven caught up in health scare

THE AGE ONLINE
Friday 28 April 2000

The potentially deadly legionnaires' outbreak at the Melbourne Aquarium claimed another three elderly victims today, bringing the total number struck down to seven.

Four people were hospitalised yesterday shortly before health authorities warned thousands of school holiday visitors to the new $33 million aquarium to be alert for symptoms of the disease.

The Department of Human Services said this afternoon a 58-year-old man is in St Vincents Hospital's intensive care unit and two women aged 61 and 79 are critically ill in the Western Hospital with the disease.

Of the four who first contracted the disease, two are recovering but two others remain critically ill.

Earlier today it was reported that the Prime Minister, his wife Janette and other senior Liberals who attended a function at the Melbourne Aquarium two weeks ago were caught up in the legionnaires' scare.

Health authorities confirmed this afternoon that the Prime Minister's office had been in touch seeking details of the outbreak.

A spokesman for Victorian Liberal Party leader Denis Napthine, who also attended the cocktail function along with more than 100 senior Liberals two weeks ago, said the Opposition Leader was in good health.

The head of communicable diseases at the Department of Human Services, Dr John Carnie, said this afternoon that all the victims had visited the aquarium between April 13 and 18. The onset of their symptoms came between April 17 and 24.

Public information hotlines set up by the department had received numerous calls. "We would still encourage people who have been in the vicinity of the aquarium over the past two weeks and have got a respiratory illness to please go and see their doctor and asked to be tested for legionnaires' disease," Dr Carnie said.

Dr Carnie said it was quite possible there would be more cases reported over the weekend.

"Because of the fact that large numbers have visited the aquarium over the relevant period and a number of those people are in risk categories, obviously, that's older age group people. So it would not be surprising if we were to get further cases," he said.

A school group and senior citizens are among those reported to have cancelled visits to the aquarium today.

Melbourne Aquarium's general manager, Bob Adams, said today the tourist attraction had done everything possible to make sure there was no further danger.

"We gave the system what's called a slug dose of the chemical which kills all evils. Having done that the department were quite happy to say the building's safe," he said.

"Certainly, when they (the department) give their results (of testing) at the end of this 10-day period, then we'll sit down with them and review the current system and see if there's anything else we need to do," Mr Adams said.

Thousands of people may have been exposed to drifting spray containing legionnaires' bacteria from external air- conditioning system while standing in long queues outside the venue.

The aquarium attracted up to 5000 visitors a day during the school holidays.

Symptoms of legionella include headaches, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains. The onset of symptoms can take up to 10 days and develop into respiratory problems and pneumonia, which can kill if left untreated.

Fifty-seven cases of legionnaires have been reported in Victoria so far this year compared with 64 cases last year.

Anyone needing more information can contact the health department hotline on 1800 365 677.

Aquarium visit puts Libs at risk

28th. April 2000

FEDERAL cabinet ministers and senior Liberal Party figures may have been exposed to the potentially fatal legionnaires' disease while visiting Melbourne's aquarium.

Two elderly Victorians were fighting last night for their lives in hospital with legionnaires' disease that has been linked to their visit to the aquarium between April 13 and 15.

It is understood some cabinet ministers and senior Liberals visited the aquarium on April 14. They were in Melbourne attending the Liberal Party National Convention.

Another two aquarium visitors, a man aged 71 and a woman aged 69, have also been hospitalised with the disease but are considered to be in a "moderate" condition.

Health officials yesterday could not rule out the possibility of more people developing the disease, which this year has killed three Victorians.

Spray drift from Melbourne Aquarium's air-conditioning cooling towers is believed to be the source of the legionella bacteria. The towers were disinfected yesterday.

The outbreak has shocked management of the aquarium, which only opened in mid-January and has attracted 300,000 visitors.

The aquarium's 150 staff are considered to be at low risk because the spray from the cooling towers was dispersed outside the building.

General manager Bob Adams said staff had been encouraged to notify management if they developed any symptoms including fever, chills, muscle aches and pains and headaches.

William Hart, Human Services assistant director of disease control, said health officials had linked the aquarium to the disease because all four victims had visited the facility about the same time.

However, he said he was still awaiting lab results to confirm the aquarium was the source of the bacteria.

Professor Hart stressed people aged over 65 were most at risk of developing the disease and it was extremely unlikely any child visiting the aquarium would develop problems.

"This is the first day of an ongoing investigation and it may be possible that in the ensuing days some further cases are notified to us," he said.

Professor Hart said the outbreak was a timely warning about the need for frequent cleaning of cooling towers, considered an ideal breeding environment for the naturally occurring legionella bacteria.

(ONE MUST QUESTION THIS STATEMENT BY PROFESSOR HART, MELBOURNE HAVE BEEN FACED WITH A GROWING PROBLEMS OF LEGIONELLA SINCE 1998, EVERY COOLING TOWER IN VICTORIA SHOULD BE SPOTLESSLY CLEAN BY NOW)

WHO THE HELLS MINDING THE STORE

MY OPINIONS MY RIGHT TO HAVE THEM

The two critically ill visitors, an 88-year-old man and 65-year-old woman were in intensive care last night.

The aquarium was embroiled in controversy shortly before opening when the RSPCA stepped in to investigate the high number of fish deaths.

The problem was linked to the aquarium accepting fish from commercial catches, a practice which has since ceased.

Fatal disease alert strikes aquarium

MARY-ANNE TOY HEALTH EDITOR
Friday 28 April 2000

Thousands of visitors to the Melbourne Aquarium have been warned by health authorities to be alert for symptoms of legionnaires' disease after an outbreak of the deadly illness was traced to the tourist centre. Four people are in hospital with the illness after visiting the $33 million aquarium this month.

Two of them are critically ill.

But although workers were disinfecting the air-conditioning cooling towers at the centre yesterday, visitors said they had not been warned of the outbreak.

Health authorities tracked the source of the outbreak to the four-month old building on the banks of the Yarra.

The four victims, two men and two women, all over 65, fell ill after visiting the aquarium on April 13 and 15.

It is likely the victims were infected while queuing outside the building as the disease is most commonly spread by spray drifts from infected cooling towers on the roofs of buildings.

The aquarium's general manager, Bob Adams, said he was shocked to learn about the contamination and hoped it would not deter visitors. He said the building had been disinfected and was safe.

"It was something that was outside our control and we are doing everything possible since we were alerted to ensure that staff and the public are safe at all times," Mr Adams said.

Victoria's chief health officer, Dr Graham Rouch, said the aquarium was "probably one of the safest places to be in the city" now that the towers had been disinfected.

You must be joking Dr Rouch.. Melbournes`s  damm dangerous, has been for two years, Someone need to clean up their act

But he warned that visitors during the recent school holidays should see their doctor immediately if they developed flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains.

The aquarium has had more than 300,000 visitors since it opened on January 17. An average of about 5000 people a day visited during the school holidays.

The head of infectious diseases at the Department of Human Services, Professor William Hart, said early diagnosis was crucial but parents should not worry as legionnaires' disease did not affect healthy children.

Those most at risk are people aged over 50, heavy smokers or drinkers, diabetics or people with chronic lung disease and those with impaired immune systems.

The onset of symptoms can take up to 10 days. The symptoms develop into respiratory problems and pneumonia, which if left untreated can kill. But if signs are acted on early enough, most victims recover.

Professor Hart said there was no evidence that the installation and maintenance of the cooling towers had been anything other than exemplary and he could not yet explain how a new building came to be contaminated so quickly.

The Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory notified the department on Wednesday about the outbreak.

After interviewing victims and relatives, the common link found between the infected patients was that they had visited the aquarium.

Definitive proof of the link will depend on the results of more detailed testing of samples taken from the towers which will be some weeks away.

The department notified the aquarium's management at noon yesterday and the cleaning began at 1pm.

The two critically ill patients are an 88-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman. All four victims are in separate Melbourne hospitals.

Professor Hart also revealed yesterday that Victoria "technically" had an epidemic of legionnaires' disease as there had been 57 notified cases this year, compared with 64 cases for all of 1999.

The department was reluctant to release full details of the cases this year, but on February 7, two men from Thomastown and two men from Fitzroy were infected. On February 10, seven people linked to the Fitzroy-Carlton area were infected and last month five workers from the Traffic Accident Commission and Workcover Authority working at 222 Exhibition Street were infected.

Anyone concerned about whether they have been infected should see their doctor or call the Department of Human Services on 1300 365 677.

Monday March 27, 2000

WARNING ON LEGIONNAIRES` DISEASE

Health authorities are urging city dwellers, office workers and visitors to be alert to the signs and symptoms of Legionnaire's Disease following two cases with links to an Exhibition Street office building.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr Graham Rouch, said a further three cases of Legionnaires` Disease which may also be linked to this area are still being investigated.

Three of the five who fell ill - two men and a woman - are being treated in hospital. The other two men had been treated and discharged.

Dr Rouch said two of those hospitalised worked at 222 Exhibition Street - one for the Transport Accident Commission and the other at the Victorian Workcover Authority.

These staff and other tenants in the building have been given information about the signs and symptoms of Legionnaires` Disease.

"One of these cases was diagnosed as a result of workplace surveillance where employees with a history of recent respiratory illness were advised to consult their doctors and inform them of the possibility of Legionnaires` disease.

Dr Rouch said the early stages of Legionnaires` Disease had flu-like symptoms, and urged people concerned about such symptoms to see their doctor.

The most common method of transmission of the legionella infection is via the spray drift from air conditioning cooling towers.

Human Services Department officials took samples from cooling towers at 222 Exhibition Street and are still waiting for confirmation of the test results.

They have also required that the towers be dosed with biocide and disinfected ahead of their regular maintenance schedule as a precaution. There is no need for staff to stay away from work because these towers and others in the vicinity have been treated.

"The recent hot weather has put a considerable extra load on cooling systems which may have provided a better environment for legionella to multiply," he said.

Multi-lingual brochures detailing the signs and symptoms of Legionnaire's Disease are available from Melbourne City Council as well as the Department of Human Services.

Evaporative air cooling units such as those used in homes and many business premises are not a likely source of legionella infection, Dr Rouch said.

Personal note
(An outbreak of Legionnaires` disease in Lama , Colorado in 1989 was caused by Evaporative Coolers that had been badly maintained which resulted in 16 cases and 3 deaths )

Medical advice on the condition is available by phoning 1300 365 677.

 Alexander, Human Services Media Unit, (03) 9616 8803, mobile 0412 260 811 e-mail: bram.alexander@dhs.vic.gov.au Internet: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/hs.html ........................... 

TWO DIE IN LEGIONNAIRES OUTBREAK

April 27th. 2000

PA News By Mike Brownhill,

CARDIFF, WALES
 

UK health officials were cited as saying today that an investigation is under way into an outbreak of legionnaires' disease which has killed two people and left three others ill.
Checks were being carried out on buildings in the Culverhouse Cross area of Cardiff in a bid to trace the source of the outbreak.
The story adds that health officials have so far failed pinpoint the cause of the cluster of cases, which started nine months ago.
A spokeswoman for Bro Taf Health Authority, which is conducting the investigation along with the Vale of Glamorgan Environmental Health Department, was cited as confirming that two people have died as a result of the outbreak and three other people who have been struck down with the bacteria have since made full recoveries.
No other details about the victims have been released.

Legionella_ from guests of Welsh hotel indistinguishable from humidifier isolates Molecular typing has shown that isolates of _Legionella pneumophila_ serogroup 1 from two patients who died from legionnaires' disease were indistinguishable from isolates from a food display humidifier in the dining room of a hotel visited by the patients.

Five cases of legionnaires' disease (two fatal) visited the same hotel in South Wales within the incubation period of their disease - one in July 1999, two in December 1999, and two in January 2000(1). Three had lunch at the hotel, one used the swimming pool, and one had a meal and stayed overnight. All water systems in the hotel, and local cooling towers were investigated, but suspicion focused on a food display unit with a humidifier, in the main dining room.

The refrigerated display unit for cold buffet food used a humidifier to produce a mist over the food, to keep it looking fresh. Initial testing failed to isolate _Legionella_ from the unit, whose three antibacterial filters were missing and whose ultraviolet lamp did not work when examined.
Residual water obtained from the humidifier's sonification unit and associated tubing after the unit was dismantled yielded _Legionella pneumophila_ serogroup 1. Isolates from residual water in the sonification unit and from two patients subtyped by the Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory at the PHLS Central Public Health Laboratory are indistinguishable by mAb subgrouping and amplified fragment length
polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. Epidemiological investigation has revealed no
further cases.

Machines that produce an aerosol or mist for refrigerated food cabinets, air conditioning systems, or industrial use have been used widely in the United Kingdom for about 12 years. Maintenance guidelines usually include antibacterial treatment, frequent testing of the ultraviolet lamp, and sampling for _Legionella_ and coliforms every six months. This outbreak, and an earlier outbreak in the United States (2), show that humidifiers may
act as a vehicle for _Legionella_ transmission. Such equipment must be properly installed and maintained.

Source CDSC Wales

 email: susan.hahne@phls.wales.nhs.uk
Bharat Pankhania, email: bharat999@netscape.net
Phil Watson, email: phil.watson@cdsc.wales.nhs.uk

References:
(1). CDSC. Legionellosis associated with a hotel in South Wales. Commun Dis
Rep CDR Wkly 2000; 10: 81.
(2). CDC. Legionnaires' disease outbreak associated with a grocery store
mist machine-Louisiana, 1989. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1990; 39: 108-9.

Legionella from Welsh hotel guests indistinguishable from humidifier isolates

Molecular typing has shown that isolates of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 from two patients who died from legionnaires’ disease were indistinguishable from isolates from a food display humidifier in the dining room of a hotel visited by the patients.

Five cases of legionnaires’ disease (two fatal) visited the same hotel in South Wales within the incubation period of their disease – one in July 1999, two in December 1999, and two in January 2000 (1). Three had lunch at the hotel, one used the swimming pool, and one had a meal and stayed overnight. All water systems in the hotel, and local cooling towers were investigated, but suspicion focused on a food display unit with a humidifier, in the main dining room.

The refrigerated display unit for cold buffet food used a humidifier to produce a mist over the food, to keep it looking fresh. Initial testing failed to isolate legionella from the unit, whose three antibacterial filters were missing and whose ultraviolet lamp did not work when examined. Residual water obtained from the humifier’s sonification unit and associated tubing after the unit was further dismantled yielded Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. Isolates from residual water in the sonification unit and from two patients subtyped by the Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory at the PHLS Central Public Health Laboratory are indistinguishable by mAb subgrouping and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. Epidemiological investigation has revealed no further cases.

Machines that produce an aerosol or mist for refrigerated food cabinets, air conditioning systems, or industrial use have been used widely in the United Kingdom for about 12 years. Maintenance guidelines usually include antibacterial treatment, frequent testing of the ultraviolet lamp, and sampling for legionella and coliforms every six months. This outbreak, and an earlier outbreak in the United States (2), show that humidifiers may act as a vehicle for legionella transmission. Such equipment must be properly installed and maintained.

References:

1.CDSC. Legionellosis associated with a hotel in South Wales. Commun Dis Rep CDR Wkly 2000; 10: 81. (http://www.phls.co.uk/publications/CDR00/cdr0900.pdf)* 2.Legionnaires’ disease outbreak associated with a grocery store mist machine-Louisiana, 1989. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1990; 39: 108-9. (http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001563.htm)

Reported by Susan Hahné (susan.hahne@phls.wales.nhs.uk), CDSC Wales, and Bharat Pankhania (bharat999@netscape.net), Bro Taf Health Authority, Cardiff, Wales.

http://www.eurosurv.org/update/

Legionellosis associated with hotel in South Wales

Two cases of indigenously acquired legionnaires’ disease reported to CDSC Wales in February 2000 had both visited a hotel in South Wales on the same day, within the period when they were likely to have acquired the infection. Three cases who developed legionnaires’ disease in July and December 1999 and January 2000 also reported brief visits to the same hotel, among other plausible exposures. The five cases were aged 40 to 77 years (2 men, 3 women) and only one stayed in the hotel overnight (for one night). Two cases have died.

The hotel's swimming pool, whirlpool spa, and water supply and other cooling towers in the immediate vicinity have been investigated, but attention has also focused on a food display unit with a humidifier in the main dining room. The humidifier uses sonification (ultrasonic vibration of water) to produce an aerosol of water that is sprayed over cold foods. On inspection an ultraviolet lamp, part of the water disinfection process, was found not to be working and none of the three filters was in place. Water samples from the humidifier are being examined. Fellow diners who accompanied the cases but have remained well are being interviewed and further epidemiological investigation will proceed if these investigations are inconclusive.

Humidifying systems of this nature are used widely in supermarkets and hotels. Their potential for contamination came to light when an ultrasonic mist machine in a grocery story in Louisiana was associated with an outbreak of 33 cases of legionnaires’ disease in 1989 (1).

Reference:

1. CDC. Legionnaires’ disease outbreak associated with a grocery store mist machine - Louisiana, 1989. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1990; 39: 108-10.

Eurosurveillance Weekly
2nd March 2000

Four cases of Legionnaires` Disease (7/2/00)

Monday, February 7, 2000.

FOUR CASES OF LEGIONNAIRE'S DISEASE

Health authorities are checking on four separate cases of Legionnaire's Disease around Melbourne to see if any of them are related.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr Graham Rouch, said two of the cases were from Thomastown and the other two had links to Fitzroy. Three of the four - all men - are recovering in hospital. The other man has been treated and discharged.

In a precautionary move, the Human Services Department has advised the owners of cooling towers on 16 buildings in a Thomastown industrial estate to clean and disinfect their towers as soon as possible.

The estate was linked to a cluster of Legionnaire's Disease cases in October 1998, but Dr Rouch said there was no evidence of a link with the two Thomastown cases at this stage.

A man, 60, admitted to the Northern Hospital on January 27, was treated and discharged on February 4. A man, 63, was admitted to the Northern Hospital on February 2 and is recovering.

The other two cases involve a Fitzroy man, 76, and a man, 41, from a bayside suburb who occasionally visits Fitzroy with work commitments. The older man was admitted to St Vincent's Hospital on January 29 and the other man to the Royal Melbourne Hospital on February 1.

Human Services Department officials have taken samples from air conditioning cooling towers in the Fitzroy area and are awaiting tests to see if they are positive to the legionella bacteria.

They have also required that the towers be dosed with biocide and disinfected ahead of their regular maintenance schedule as a precaution.

Thorough decontamination and cleaning of infected towers will eliminate the risk.

Evaporative air cooling units such as those used in homes and many business premises are not a likely source of legionella infection, Dr Rouch said.

Dr Rouch asked for any doctors who treated people with flu-like symptoms in the Thomastown or Fitzroy areas to check for the possibility of Legionnaires Disease.

High risk groups in the community are males aged over 50, heavy smokers, heavy drinkers, diabetics, people with chronic lung disease and those with impaired body defences.

Regulations require cooling towers, warm water systems and public spas to be maintained and disinfected regularly.

There are on average 20 to 40 cases of Legionnaires` Disease per year in Victoria, and 200 cases nationally. There have been eight cases in Victoria so far this year.

Media inquiries: Department of Human Services, Media Unit 9616 7296.

Internet: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/hs.html

(F:press2000/Legion/gw/7.2.00)

...........................

PERSONAL NOTE (DENIS)

An outbreak of Legionnaires disease in 1989 at the Cow Palace Inn Lama Colorado
was caused though EVAPORATIVE AIRCONDITIONING UNITS.

The NSW Code of Practice states that Legionella Bacteria has ben found in such systems.

A survey in 1998 by a local TV Company in Perth Western Australia found Legionella Bacteria in Nine out of Eleven systems tested

maintain your evap cooler please

Source News.com.au

Killer bug hits seven

11th- Feb- 2000

RESIDENTS of Fitzroy and Carlton have been put on alert after an outbreak of the deadly Legionnaire's disease.

Seven people – all but one of whom are residents of the area – have tested positive to the bacteria. Six are still recovering in St Vincent's hospital.

Health authorities warned electricity disruptions could lead to more cases as air-conditioning cooling towers were turned off and on.

The Department of Human Services yesterday said it had yet to pinpoint the source of the latest outbreak.

Chief health officer Graham Rouch said the danger area appeared to be bounded by Lygon and Princes streets (Alexandra Pde), Smith St and Gertrude st.

Dr Rouch said there were just three cooling towers in the area – the usual source of legionella – and all had been tested and disinfected as a precaution. Results of the tests would not be known for more than a week.

"We have to assume, because of this cluster, that we have a community outbreak in that neighborhood," Dr Rouch said.

The victims are six men and a woman aged 41 to 76 years.

Two of the Fitzroy cases were announced on Monday along with two other Legionnaire's victims from Thomastown.

Dr Rouch ruled out any link with the Thomastown cases, the source of which is still unknown.

He advised doctors in the area to look for the flu-like symptoms of the disease, which was fatal if left untreated.

Because of legionella's incubation period, the latest cases are believed to have been contracted early in January.

But Dr Rouch said the current hot spell could trigger more cases.

"We are asking industry to redouble their efforts in the vicinity," Dr Rouch said. "Heat puts extra stress on the towers and favors the multiplication of bacteria.

"When (the towers) are down and started up again there is a risk of legionella coming out in greater numbers."

Dr Rouch said the most common method of transmission was by breathing in the spray drift from cooling towers.

He said evaporative cooling systems used in homes and businesses were an unlikely source.

People at greatest risk were older people with reduced immunity, heavy smokers and drinkers, men aged over 50 and people with diabetes or chronic lung disease.

The illness caused symptoms including headache, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, respiratory problems and pneumonia.

Dr Rouch said there were about 40 cases of Legionnaire's annually, with 13 cases so far this year.

Seven cases of Legionnaires` Disease

Thursday February 10, 2000

SEVEN CASES OF LEGIONNAIRES` DISEASE

Health authorities are urging people in Fitzroy and Carlton to be alert to the signs and symptoms of Legionnaires` Disease following the notification of seven cases in these suburbs.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr Graham Rouch, said all seven had links to Fitzroy and Carlton. Six of the seven - five men and a woman - are still being treated in hospital. The other man has been treated and discharged.

Dr Rouch said these cases are not linked to two earlier cases from Thomastown.

Dr Rouch said the early stages of Legionnaires` Disease had flu-like symptoms, and urged people concerned about such symptoms to see their doctor.

The most common method of transmission of the legionella infection is via the spray drift from air conditioning cooling towers.

Human Services Department officials have taken samples from cooling towers in the Fitzroy and Carlton area and are awaiting tests to see if they are positive for the legionella bacteria.

They have also required that the towers be dosed with biocide and disinfected ahead of their regular maintenance schedule as a precaution.

Dr Rouch said very few businesses in the areas where the cases lived had cooling towers which could contain the legionella bacteria.

"The recent hot weather has put a considerable extra load on cooling systems which may have provided a better environment for legionella to multiply," he said.

Multi-lingual brochures detailing the signs and symptoms of Legionnaires` Disease are available from Melbourne City Council and Yarra Council, as well as the Department of Human Services. They will also be distributed to residents in Carlton and Fitzroy.

Medical advice on the condition is available by phoning 1300 365 677.

The legionella bacteria occurs naturally in the environment, mainly in water and soil. It is normally in very low concentrations but can increase markedly, particularly in man-made aquatic environments with warm recirculating water, such as air conditioning cooling towers.

Infection is acquired through breathing in very fine droplets of water which contain the bacteria, such as spray drifts which are vented off from the towers.

Thorough decontamination and cleaning of infected towers will eliminate the risk.

Evaporative air cooling units such as those used in homes and many business premises are not a likely source of legionella infection, Dr Rouch said.

The illness causes flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, followed by respiratory problems and pneumonia developed over three or four days. Onset can be up to 10 days after the initial contact with the bacteria.

Dr Rouch asked for any doctors who treated people with flu-like symptoms in the Fitzroy or Carlton areas to check for the possibility of Legionnaires` Disease.

High risk groups in the community are males aged over 50, heavy smokers, heavy drinkers, diabetics, people with chronic lung disease and those with impaired body defences.

Regulations require cooling towers, warm water systems and public spas to be maintained and disinfected regularly.

There have been thirteen cases in Victoria so far this year.

Media inquiries: Bram Alexander, Human Services Media Unit, (03) 9616 8803,

Mobile 0412 260 811

e-mail: bram.alexander@dhs.vic.gov.au

Internet: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/hs.html

...........................

Thursday February 24, 2000
A CASE OF LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE INVESTIGATED

A case of Legionnaires' Disease contracted by a city office worker is being investigated by health authorities, Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr Graham Rouch, said today.

The man, who is employed by the Department of Justice and works in the County Court building, is recovering in hospital.

County Court staff have been warned to be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms of Legionnaires' Disease.

The illness causes flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, followed by respiratory problems and pneumonia developed over three or four days. Onset can be up to 10 days after the initial contact with the bacteria.

The legionella bacteria occurs naturally in the environment, mainly in water and soil. It is normally in very low concentrations but can increase markedly, particularly in man-made aquatic environments with warm recirculating water, such as air conditioning cooling towers.

Dr Rouch said water samples have been taken from cooling towers at the County Court and the adjacent Owen Dixon chambers. As a precautionary measure these have been disinfected to reduce possible levels of legionella bacteria that may be present.

Infection is acquired through breathing in very fine droplets of water which contain the bacteria, such as spray drifts which are vented off from the towers.

Thorough decontamination and cleaning of infected towers will eliminate the risk.

Regulations require cooling towers, warm water systems and public spas to be maintained and disinfected regularly.

It seems my my new page on Whats the Hells a matter with Sydney will have to apply to Victoria as well

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA

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THE AQUARIUM OUTBREAK
 
 
 
 

THESE TWO LINKS WILL TAKE YOU STRAIGHT TO
DEJA NEWS  DISCUSSION ON
LEGIONELLA AND LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE

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