OUTBREAKS
2000
OUTBREAKS
2000
Seems I was wrong, this must be the last one for 2000, see the next article.
BARCELONA December
legionella returns to threaten another outbreak, in this case in Cornellà. A neighbor of this city died day 1 in the hospital of Bellvitge and a second patient is admitted the hospital of the Red Creu, also in'Hospitalet.
The
Generalitat and the City council have begun to work in the studies
epidemiologists and to gather samples of water of cooling towers of the air
conditioning systems, one of the more common centers of legionella.
The person who passed away of legionella - not informed neither into her name
nor into its sex was 60 years old.
Day 23 began to be bad of December and later entered three days in Bellvitge with symptoms of pneumonía.
Day
29 was confirmed that it suffered legionella. The patient suffered in addition a
hepática crócina disease - legionella more hard usually affects people than
already they have a delicate state of health, according to the doctors -.
The second patient, of 53 years, began to be the 17th of December bad and
admitted the hospital of Red Creu the 22, although until he did not notify
himself yesterday that he was a case of legionella, according to the Department
of Health. The patient is affected of chronic bronchitis and cardiopathy but
she evolves favorably, according to conselleria.
Health did not make specific if the two people lived close, but all she makes
think yes that and that she suspects that the outbreak can be communitarian - that is
to say, that the center expels the bacterium towards the outside and not towards
the interior of a building because they have begun to gather samples of three
cooling towers of two companies located in the neighborhoods of the address of
the affected ones, according to Health.
THERE JUST HAD TO BE ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD IN 2000
PARIS, FRANCE.. December 2000
Legionnaire's Disease Cited in Paris
-------------------------------------
A Paris hospital has banned showers and ordered water pipes disinfected after 4 people were diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease, health officials
said Saturday.
All 4 people caught the respiratory disease in the past month, said Dr. Guy Meyer, president of the infectious disease unit at Paris' newly opened
Georges Pompidou European Hospital.
One of the patients diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease has died, but his death was related to a heart condition, hospital director Louis Omnes said.
The 3 other patients were treated with antibiotics and were doing well, Meyer said.
The ultramodern 750-bed hospital in southwestern Paris was officially inaugurated by French President Jacques Chirac last week. But it has had a
series of setbacks since opening its doors in July, including frequent computer and technical breakdowns.
Officials suspect that Legionella -- a waterborne bacterium -- developed in unused sections of water pipes in the hospital, which is only partially
occupied by about 250 patients. "The stagnation of hot water could explain the epidemic," Omnes said.
Legionella can be inhaled when water is released into the air, through air conditioners, steam or other means. Disinfecting with chlorine or heat
usually kills the bacterium, which causes a form of pneumonia.
The disease does not spread person to person. Symptoms include high fever, cough and shortness of breath.
SOURCE... ProMed
Update
NEWLY-OPENED PARIS HOSPITAL HAS LEGIONNAIRE` CASES
December 30, 2000
Reuters
PARIS - Health officials on Saturday were cited as confirming four cases of the potentially fatal Legionnaires' disease at the brand new Georges
Pompidou European Hospital, marking, according to this story, a new embarrassment for the beleaguered facility.
Paris hospital officials said four people had contracted the bacterial illness, most often caused by inhaling mist from contaminated water sources,
over the past month.
A doctor said one of the people suffering from the illness had died, but "not because of Legionnaires' disease."
The French government has called the 827-bed ultra-modern complex in
southwest Paris the hospital of the future, but critics say it is rapidly joining the ranks of the country's renowned white elephants.
December 23rd 2000
MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA
Once again the Royal Melbourne Hospital is at the center of another outbreak of Legionnaires Disease...
My comments on the Spanish Outbreaks was who`s minding the bloody store, seems the same question must be asked about Melbourne, the worlds second dangerous city for Legionella after Spain
******
Legionella death hits the Royal Melbourne Hospital
(AGAIN)
23rd. December 2000
Hundreds of people may have been exposed to legionnaires' disease from contaminated air-conditioning cooling towers at the
Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Health authorities yesterday confirmed that a patient who died
on December 12 almost certainly contracted the disease at the hospital. He had been there for more than two weeks and the
maximum incubation period is usually 10 days.
Three other male patients have also tested positive for legionella,
a rare form of pneumonia which has a death rate of up to 20 per cent. However, it is not known whether they contracted it at the
hospital.
John Carnie, head of the Department of Human Services' communicable diseases division, said yesterday the hospital
towers were safe from December 15, but urged anyone who visited the hospital in the past month and was having respiratory
problems to see their doctor.
The head of the Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, located at the hospital, said the patient who died would
most likely have been infected by airborne particles of legionella bacteria sprayed from the cooling towers when he went out on a
balcony or outside the hospital.
Professor Brown emphasized that the bacteria was not in the air-conditioning system inside the hospital.
He said there was no conclusive evidence to link all four cases
to the hospital's towers, but all the cases were being investigated.
The patient who died was confirmed as having legionella on
the 15th December and the
Department of Human Services was
called in the same day.
Its officers took samples and dosed all
the towers with chlorine that day to prevent any on-going infection. The results from the samples taken then came back on
Thursday and revealed that two of the hospital's 12 cooling towers had low levels of the bacteria..
Two of the remaining three patients confirmed as having legionella were admitted with flu-like symptoms, suggesting they
may have already been infected when admitted.
Two of them have been discharged; the third remains in hospital
but is improving.
The patient who died was admitted in late November with an unrelated illness. His condition deteriorated, he developed a
fever and was tested for a variety of conditions, including legionella. Despite treatment, he died on December 12th.
Victoria has had a record number of legionella cases this year,
with 244 notifications, including nine deaths. This includes the 110 Victorians (two of whom died) who caught legionella at the
Melbourne Aquarium.
Outbreaks of legionella infection in Spain, 2000
Seven outbreaks of legionnaires’ disease have been notified to Spain’s national centre for epidemiology in 2000. In four of them patients acquired
infection in the community and in three the infection was hospital acquired.
The European Working Group for Legionella Infections (EWGLI) has also reported four clusters of legionellosis in tourists who visited Spain in 2000;
15 cases were identified. This report describes three large community acquired outbreaks.
From 16 September to 8 October 2000, 70 cases of legionellosis (43 men and 27 women; aged 20 to 95 years) were reported by the local health
authorities of Alcoi, in the Valencia region. Two patients died. Cases were diagnosed on the basis of urinary antigen tests for Legionella pneumophila
and in three cases L. pneumophila serogroup (sg) 1 Pontiac Knoxville was isolated. Preliminary enquiries revealed an association with visiting and living
in a certain area of the city. Exposure to this same area focused the
investigation on the possibility of aerosol transmission from contaminated cooling towers. Clinical isolates and water samples from cooling towers from
the area were sent to the national reference laboratory. All the cooling towers in the suspected area were disinfected. Intensified surveillance is
continuing.
On 9 October, five cases of legionnaires' disease were diagnosed on the basis of urinary antigen tests for L. pneumophila, and an increased number
of cases of atypical pneumonia was notified to the regional health authorities of Galicia by a hospital in Vigo (1). The epidemiological investigation
resulted in the identification of 28 cases (21 men and 7 women; aged 30 to 79 years), three of whom died. The first case became ill on 18 September
2000, and no cases with dates of onset since 1 October have been notified.
Preliminary enquiries on 10 October showed an association with visiting and living in a certain area of the city. A hospital based matched case control
study carried out on 11 October with 17 cases and 37 controls confirmed that living, working, or walking in the area near the hospital was associated
with illness (odds ratio 4.29; 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 18.0). One clinical isolate and water samples from cooling towers from the area were
sent to the National Reference Laboratory. The clinical isolate was identified
as L. pneumophila SG 1 Pontiac and all the environmental samples were negative. All the cooling towers in the suspected area were disinfected.
From 14 September to 16 November 2000, 40 cases of legionellosis were reported by the local health authorities of Barcelona, Catalonia. One patient
died. Cases were diagnosed on the basis of urinary antigen tests for L. pneumophila. Preliminary enquiries showed an association with visiting and
living in a neighbourhood of the city of Barcelona. Exposure to this area and the absence of any other potential source focused the investigation on the
possibility of aerosol transmission from contaminated cooling towers.
Samples from suspect cooling towers were taken, and the towers were then disinfected. Intensified surveillance is continuing.
References:
1.Hervada X, Cano R. A community outbreak of legionnaires’ disease: Galicia, Spain.
Eurosurveillance Weekly 2000; 4: 001026.
(http://www.eurosurv.org/2000/001
NEW PAGE ON THE SPANISH OUTBREAKS AT
A community outbreak of legionnaires’ disease:
Galicia, Spain
On 5th October 2000, an increase in the number of cases with atypical pneumonia was notified to the regional health authorities of Galicia by a
hospital in Vigo. On 9th October, five cases of legionnaires' disease were diagnosed on the basis of Legionella pneumophila urinary antigen tests.
An epidemiological investigation undertaken to study the possible outbreak resulted in the identification of 28 cases (21 men and 7 women; age range
30 to 79 years), three of whom died. The first case became ill on 18 September 2000 and no cases with dates of onset since
1st October have
been notified.
Preliminary enquiries on 10 October revealed a relationship with visiting and living in a certain area of the city. A hospital-based matched case control
study was carried out on 11 October with 17 cases and 37 controls to test this initial hypothesis. A case was defined as a person who developed
pneumonia and had a positive urinary antigen test.
The study confirmed that living, working, or walking in the area near the hospital was associated with illness (odds ratio 4.29; 95% confidence
interval 1.6-18.0). Exposure to this same area and the absence of any other potential source focused the investigation on the possibility of contamination
from cooling towers. One clinical isolate and water samples of cooling towers from the area were sent to the National Reference Laboratory. All the
cooling towers in the suspected area have been disinfected. Up until now no
source has been implicated. Intensified surveillance is continuing.
Reported by Xurxo Hervada (dxsp3@jet.es) Servicio de Información deSaúde Pública, Dirección Xeral de Saúde Pública. Galicia. Spain, and Rosa
Cano (rcano@isciii.es) National Center of Epidemiology. Madrid. Spain.
LEGIONNAIRES` DISEASE KILLS BRITISH PRIESTS IN ROME REUNION
October 14th 2000
Two British priests, according to this story, died after contracting Legionnaire's disease during a reunion at their old college in Rome as partof Holy Year.
Canon Harold Parker, 73, and Fr Tony Foulkes, 71, were among a party of 20 who took part in the 17-day trip to the English College. Both had been
ordained there before serving as Roman Catholic priests in northern England.
Fr Foulkes, priest at Our Lady of the Assumption in Blackpool, died last week and Canon Parker, of St Wilfrid's, Ripon, North Yorks, died on Monday.
Bernard Connolly, a layman and third member of the group, from Torquay, Devon, also showed symptoms of the illness upon his return.
An official with the Italian public health authority was cited as saying experts had isolated a Legionella bacteria within the college's water system.
The story says that Fr Foulkes and other members of the group attended a regular Papal audience in the Vatican three days before returning to England. A spokesman for the national communicable disease centre was quoted as saying, "There is no public health risk to anyone in Britain."
July 2000 France
Five died by legionella from July in a French region
Five died and other thirteen affected from the past month of July are the provisional balance of the center of
legionella detected in the
department bretón of D`ille-et-Vilaine, located in the northwest of France.
Community Cluster of Legionnaires' Disease in France, 2000
----------------------------------------------------------
Between the end of July and 15 Nov 2000, 19 cases of legionnaires' disease (5 fatal) were reported in Rennes, in northwest France. _Legionella
pneumophila_ serogroup 1 was isolated from 7 cases: the French National Reference Centre has reported that the 7 strains share the same genomicprofile. The European Working Group on Legionella Infection has been
informed.
The source of infection is unknown. Preliminary investigations indicated that most cases visited or lived in Rennes. A case control study and
environmental investigations are under way. Eurosurveillance Weekly reported 2 weeks ago on several community outbreaks of legionnaires'
disease in Spain.
Reference:
De Mateo Ontanon S, Cano R. Outbreaks of legionella infection in Spain,
2000. Eurosurveillance Weekly 2000; 4: 001207.
http://www.eurosurv.org/2000/001207.htm
Reported by Benedicte Decludt, Institut de Veille Sanitaire Saint Maurice, France
b.decludt@invs.sante.fr
--
DEADLY
LEGIONNAIRES` DISEASE OUTBREAK FEARED AT BURLINGTON NURSING HOME
July 31st, 2000
The Toronto
Star
BURLINGTON
The death
of an elderly man on Friday has intensified fears that, according to this
story, for the second time in six years, a Burlington nursing home is wrestling
with a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires` disease.
Fourteen residents have fallen ill and nine have
died since July 13 at the 138-bed Brantwood Lifecare Centre, a toll that
set off alarm bells among staff.
The story says that the person who died Friday,
who has not been identified, tested positive for legionella antigens, a
sign he had been infected at some point with the water vapour-borne bacteria.
Mary Anne Carson, manager of communicable disease
control services for Halton, was cited as saying that further tests will
be required to determine what role the infection may have played in his
death.
By comparison, Six Brantwood residents died from
a variety of causes during the entire month of July 1999 and industry figures
suggest an average monthly death rate of about four residents is normal
in Ontario for a home of that size, although the total is seasonably variable.
Fears of a disease outbreak led to strict infection control procedures
being ordered by the Halton Region public health department.
The story says that health officials have closed
the home to new admissions, conducted tests on all residents, and taken
water and other samples throughout the Hagar Avenue complex. The home¹s
entire water system has been super-heated and disinfected as a precautionary
measure.
A 1994
legionella outbreak at Brantwood resulted in 17 illnesses and may have
contributed to three or four deaths, creating a public outcry that culminated
in a coroner¹s inquest. Although testimony in that inquest was critical
of the home¹s failure to communicate swiftly with families of the
residents, jurors
praised the care and work of staff coping with
the crisis.
And while the possible re-appearance of the disease
raises questions about the home`s preventive systems, health officials
say Brantwood staff have been playing it by the book since they realized
what they had on their hands.
Update LEEDS
1st August 2000
Outbreak of hospital acquired legionnaires’ disease
The first outbreak of hospital acquired legionnaires’ disease in England and Wales since 1997 1 has
been reported by Leeds General Infirmary (LGI). Two patients who were treated on the same ward in
late June/early July 2000 were diagnosed with legionnaires’ disease on 13 July. Infection with
Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was confirmed (urinary antigen) on 17 July. Both cases arerecovering.
An outbreak control team met on 14 July. It decided to keep the ward on which cases had arisen closed
to new admissions; carry out targeted environmental surveillance as advised by the Health and Safety
Executive; inform medical and ward staff and general practitioners in Leeds of the incident and warn
them to consider the possibility of further cases; carry out targeted surveillance of patients admitted to
the index ward from 5 to 29 June; and set up a helpline for the public using NHS Direct (01924
889879).
Inspection of the ward where the cases arose and interviews with patients and staff on the ward did not
reveal a source of infection. Extensive environmental sampling of cooling towers, water supplies, and
showers took place. A potential source has been identified and measures taken to rectify the problem.
Other possible cases (pneumonia-like illness) and one probable case are currently being investigated
microbiologically (urinary antigen, serology, sputum culture). The investigators have asked
microbiologists and consultants in communicable disease control to consider the possibility of
legionnaires’ disease in patients who have attended LGI in recent weeks. Please discuss any
suspectedt cases with
1. Joseph CA, Harrison TG, Ilijic-Car D, Bartlett CLR. Legionnaires’ disease in residents of England and Wales: 1997. Commun Dis Public Health 1998; 2: 252-8.
Source CDR Weekly
PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre,
61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ
*********************************
15th. July 2000
Two struck down by hospital killer bug
AT least two patients at Leeds General Infirmary
have been struck down by an outbreak of the potentially fatal Legionnaire’s
Disease.
Up to four others are thought to be affected
and dozens of others could be at risk.
The source of the infection is understood to have
been traced back to the hospital’s cooling system and an
investigation is under way.
Health chiefs believe they have isolated the
cases to the hospital’s new Jubilee Wing, but it is feared some
former patients, now discharged, could be harbouring
the disease.
However, public health bosses today said the
risk was “quite small” and urged people not to panic.
Leeds Health Authority public health consultant
Dr Martin Schweiger said: “It is a situation of great concern and one we
are monitoring very closely. Everything possible is being done.
“We would, though, urge people not to panic.
We hope we have isolated all of the cases in the hospital,
although there is a chance that cases might exist
outside.
“Anyone who exhibits any of the symptoms of Legionnaire’s
Disease should seek help as soon as
possible.”
The outbreak is thought to have happened between
June 5 and 29, but a definite diagnosis was only made
on Wednesday. The two patients are said to be
making “good progress”.
Staff throughout the hospital and GPs across
the city have been alerted to potential symptoms to allow early
diagnosis of any new cases. Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Trust – which runs LGI – say “everything possible” is being done to contain
the bacteria.
Trust lead infection control doctor Dr Mark Wilcox
said: “The risk of further cases is very small and those people likely
to be at risk are already being contacted.”
Source
Yorkshire Evening Post 15th July 2000
14th July 2000
Two patients
have contracted the potentially deadly Legionnaires' Disease while in a
Leeds
hospital and a number of other patients are showing
symptoms of the illness.
The patients were infected when they stayed in
a ward in the Jubilee Building at Leeds
General Infirmary last month, said a hospital
spokesman.
He added that a potential source has been identified
and measures are being taken to rectify the
problem.
An investigation is also underway and involves
the hospital trust, health authority and the Health and Safety Executive.
"The trust is taking steps to check the health
of patients who have been in the ward affected during this period," said
the hospital spokesman.
"GPs and medical and ward staff have been alerted."
 |
|
|
A special helpline has been set up by NHS Direct
for concerned members of the public on
01924 889 879.
Source
BBC London 14th. June 2000
Thursday, June 29, 2000.
LEGIONELLA CASE AT COLLINGWOOD
FOOTBALL CLUB
Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of legionella in a spa bath at the Collingwood Football Club where a woman, 32, critically ill with Legionnaires' Disease, had worked.
The woman, who worked as a student masseur at the club, is in a critical condition in the Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre
The Head of Disease Control at the Human Services Department, Professor William Hart, said the woman fell ill on June 17 and was taken to hospital.
Test results received by the Human Services Department on June 23 showed up for Legionnaire's Disease, and Department scientists, considering the football club as a possible source, took water samples and dosed the spa with chlorine.
Test results received late today confirmed the presence of legionella in the water sample.
The ill woman was said to be a heavy smoker - one of the risk groups for contracting the disease.
3rd. July 2000
TWO FURTHER COLLINGWOOD LEGIONELLA CASES CONFIRMED
Two men who visited the Collingwood Football Club in early June have been confirmed with Legionnaires' Disease.
Both men have received hospital treatment for the illness and been discharged, the Head of Disease Control at the Human Services Department, Professor William Hart said today.
Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of legionella in a spa bath at the football club.
The two men came forward last Friday after details of a Legionnaires' Disease link with the Collingwood Football Club were released. A woman, 32, who did some work as a student masseur at the club, is still in a critical condition at the Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre.
Prof Hart said a Gardenvale man, 48, who had been at the club on June 3 and a Brunswick man, 47, who had attended on June 4, have recovered from their illness.
One of the men had been in the players' room containing the spa and the other said he had been in the vicinity.
Prof Hart said when they were initially questioned in mid-June by health officials trying to ascertain a source of their illness, both men indicated they had not been to a spa pool. A third man, 26, who had been in the players' room on June 13 and was later hospitalised with pneumonia, tested negative to Legionnaires' Disease.
Prof Hart said 12 Collingwood officials and players had taken up the offer of tests on Friday, and the initial results have all returned negative.
Source DHS Media
Legionnaires' Suspected in Japan
One man died and 13 other people were hospitalized from a suspected outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at a public bath in Japan, a government official said Tuesday.
Health officials were inspecting a city-run bath house in Ibaraki state for evidence of the bacteria that cause the disease. Ibaraki is 63 miles northeast of Tokyo.
A 73-year-old man who bathed in the facility earlier this month died on 21st June 2000, about a week after checking into a hospital with symptoms of the pneumonia-like illness, the official said.
All of the 13 others, including three in serious condition, used the same bath from early May until it was closed 24 Jun 2000 and exhibited similar symptoms, officials said.
The victims range in age from 58 to 85, the official said. The public bath closed to allow the state to inspect and disinfect the facility, officials said.
Some 120 cases of Legionnaires' disease have been documented in Japan since the government began keeping records in April 1999.
Since then, Japan's biggest outbreak of Legionnaires' disease occurred in March at a hot springs resort in Shizuoka state, where 23 people contracted the disease and two later died, a Health Ministry official said. Shizuoka is 94 miles west of Tokyo.
source Media
LEGIONELLA SHUTS NORTH YORK
SCHOOL; BACTERIA FOUND IN WASHROOM PIPE
Officials have, according to
this story, closed a North York Catholic school after the public health
department found the school's water is contaminated with Legionella bacteria.
In a letter sent home yesterday from St. Paschal Baylon elementary school,
near Bathurst St. and Steeles Ave. W., parents were informed that the Toronto
Catholic District School Board had been investigating conditions at the
school after concerns about health issues arose over the last few weeks.
May 31, 2000
The Toronto Star
Parent Jacqueline Miele was
cited as saying she is concerned because her three children have
been sick with cold-like symptoms for a couple of days and the youngest
has diarrhea.
Education
director Johanne Stewart said alarm bells went off when four of the school's
teachers contracted pneumonia near the end of April. The letter says the
department found Legionella bacteria in a pipe in a boys' washroom in the
basement after the water was tested May 17th. Test results were returned
yesterday.
Although the pipe does not lead
to a drinking fountain, the letter said officials planned to set up a drinking
station, providing bottled water
for the 428 students and 25
staff. Later yesterday, however, school officials called parents and told
them the school would be closed. Students from kindergarten to Grade 5
are to be bused to the board's staff training site on Bainbridge Ave. and
pupils in Grades 6 to 8 will be bused to Blessed Trinity Catholic School
on Bayview Ave.
Friday, May 19, 2000.
101 CASES OF LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE
The number of people confirmed with Legionnaires' Disease from an outbreak linked to the Melbourne Aquarium is now 101.
The head of Disease Control at the Human Services Department, Professor William Hart, said 15 people remained in hospital, 3 of them in a critical condition.
All the confirmed people, including the two women who died, are aged from 23 to 89. All contracted their illness between April 11 and 25.
Professor Hart said only one person from a cluster of six cases at Cobram remains in hospital and is in a satisfactory condition.
Source DHS Victoria Australia
This outbreak is now in line with the Stafford Hospital England in 1985 as the second largest outbreak in the world of Legionella
Stafford Outbreak...101 cases 28 Deaths
The world never learns
The number of people confirmed
with Legionnaires' Disease from an outbreak linked to the Melbourne Aquarium
is now 99.
The head of Disease Control at
the Human Services Department, Professor William Hart, said 15 people remained in hospital, 5 of them
in a critical condition.
All the confirmed people, including
the two women who died, are aged from 23 to 89. All contracted their illness
between April 11 and 25.
Professor Hart said the number
of cases associated with a cluster at Cobram has now risen to six.
Three other people associated
with this cluster remain in Cobram Hospital in a satisfactory condition. The other two have been discharged.
The Department is still waiting
for legionella test results from samples taken from 28 cooling towers at
six locations in Cobram last week.
UPDATE
Wednesday, May 17, 2000.
99 CASES OF LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE
The latest case is an 87-year-old
man who is in a satisfactory condition in the Cobram Hospital.
SOURCE
DHS.. Victorian Human Services
Update
Melbourne Aquarium
Friday, May 12, 2000.
The number of people confirmed
with Legionnaires' Disease from an outbreak linked to the Melbourne Aquarium
is now 93.
The head of Disease Control at
the Human Services Department, Professor William Hart, said 22 people remained
in hospital, six of them in a critical condition.
All the confirmed people, including
the two women who died, are aged from 23 to 89. All contracted their illness
between April 11 and 25.
Professor Hart said the number
of suspected cases has dropped significantly.
"While they have not tested positive
to the urinary antigen test there is still a chance they may become confirmed
cases because the results of blood tests - which require a second follow-up
test - take longer to complete.
The Department is awaiting test
results on a further 9 people who had been to the aquarium and who have
developed respiratory illness symptoms. They include one from New Zealand,
one from the United Kingdom, one from the United States, one from Malaysia
and one from NSW.
Professor Hart said no new cases
have been reported from the cluster at Cobram. Two remain in Cobram Hospital
in a satisfactory condition. The other two have been discharged.
Department Human Service
Victorian Government.
93 CASES OF LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE
ANOTHER
ONE.................................................
New Outbreak of Legionnaires`
disease found in Victoria
Source: Media
May
10th. 2000
Another six people have been
confirmed with legionnaires' disease in Melbourne, as a further outbreak
of thedisease has been linked
to a town in northern Victoria.
Three town residents are recovering
in the hospital in Cobram and a fourth has been discharged after they caught
the disease between April 28 and 30.
Health official have ordered
that air-conditioning cooling towers in the town be dosed with biocides
to kill offany legionella
bacteria.
The news came as the total confirmed
with the disease from the Melbourne Aquarium rose from 81 to 87, including
two deaths.
A further 17 unconfirmed cases
are awaiting test results, including at least four from overseas, according
to health officials.
Two people have died in what
has become Australia's largest, though not its worst, outbreak of legionnaires'
disease.
New
legionnaires' outbreak strikes Cobram
Four Cobram residents have fallen
ill with legionnaires' disease and three
But the towers were not disinfected
until up to three days after the
By contrast, towers at the Melbourne
Aquarium were decontaminated within
The number of confirmed cases
associated with the aquarium outbreak has
Professor Hart said the aquarium
outbreak was the third largest in the world
May 11th. 2000
sets of cooling towers, including
those at the town's hospital, have been
tested for Legionella and decontaminated.
Department of Human Services
became aware there could be a source of
legionnaires' disease in the
area. Victoria's deputy chief health officer,
William Hart, said the department
first became aware there could be a source
of the disease in the area on
Sunday. But some of the cooling towers were
not disinfected until yesterday.
hours of the department realising
they could be the source of an outbreak.
Professor Hart defended the
department's actions in Cobram and said
officials were surveying the
town to check if any other towers existed.
risen to 87, including two deaths.
There are a further 17 suspected cases -
including a new one in Malaysia.
but that the incidence of new
cases was tapering off.
(NOT
SO Perhaps the 4th largest if you don`t count spas)
In relation to the Cobram outbreak,
Professor Hart said the first case, a
Two further cases, a 69-year-old
woman and a 34-year-old woman, were
Professor Hart said the hospital's
towers had been doused during the day on
However, Cobram Hospital's director
of nursing, David Wenban, said the
61-year-old man, was notified
last Wednesday and treated as an isolated
case. But when the case of an
81-year-old woman was reported on Sunday, the
department realised there could
be a source of the disease in the town.
identified on Tuesday. .
Tuesday and that two sets of
towers associated with the milk products
industry had been doused yesterday.
hospital's towers were not doused
until yesterday morning - three days after
the department found out there
could be a problem.
source Media
Second
legionnaires` outbreak in Victoria
There has been another outbreak
of legionnaires` disease in Victoria, this time in the state's north.
Four cases have been reported at
Cobram, west of Albury on the New South Wales border.
Cooling towers on several buildings
in Cobram including the hospital have been treated with biocides and an investigation has
been launched to find the source of another four cases of legionnaires`
disease.
Three residents, two women aged
81 and 69 and a 61-year-old man have been treated in the Cobram Hospital
and a 34-year-old woman has been discharged.
All became ill between April 28
and 30.
The head of disease control for
the department of Human Services, Professor William Hart, says samples
from the cooling towers are being tested for the legionella bacteria, and
all towers have been treated and declared safe.
World's biggest
The number of people confirmed with
legionnaires` disease from the outbreak linked to the Melbourne aquarium
is now 87, making it one of largest outbreaks in the world.
Two
people have died, 25 remain in hospital and seven of those are critically
ill.
A further 17 people with symptoms
are awaiting test results.
The Federal Finance Minister John
Fahey is being treated for legionella but expects to make a full recovery.
It is yet to be determined if Mr
Fahey's illness is linked to an outbreak of the disease at the Melbourne
Aquarium.
He is now on leave from Parliament,
after working through Federal Outbreakget preparations while suffering from
legionella.
While he did attend a Liberal Party
function at the aquarium during the outbreak, Victorian health officials
are unsure if it is the source of his illness.
Members of Parliament, including
the Prime Minister, John Howard, and the Opposition leader, Kim Beazley,
have wished Mr Fahey a speedy recovery.
Mr Fahey will recuperate at home
over the next few days.
Source ABC News 10th. May 2000
Thai
govt joins Legionnaire fight
One-third of the buildings the Health
Ministry checked harboured the bacteria. It now wants hotel operators to help in an inspection
programme
BANGKOK -- The death of a British
tourist from Legionnaires` disease in Thailand has prompted the Health
Ministry to ask hotel operators to take part in a voluntary inspection
programme to curb the pneumonia-like ailment.
Meanwhile, the ministry is working
on new rules for the inspection of cooling towers, as the bacteria that
cause the disease thrive in cool, damp environments such as air-conditioning
towers and ducts.
The ministry has already inspected
74 buildings, including hotels, hospitals and office buildings, in five
cities popular with tourists.
It found that one-third of them
harboured the bacteria. Several of them were five-star hotels in Bangkok.
The ministry's checks came after
a British man who had visited Thailand later died from the disease. There have also been reports that
two Australian tourists came down with the disease during visits to Thailand.
Australia itself is dealing with
a deadly outbreak of the disease that has killed two people and afflicted
dozens more.
The air-conditioning system at a
new aquarium in Melbourne has been blamed.
The Australian reports, however,
have not been not confirmed.
Source.. Straits Times Singapore 6th May 2000
12th. May 2000
Another two people have been
confirmed with Legionnaires` Disease in Melbourne, bringing the total affected
by the Melbourne Aquarium outbreak to 93.
Twenty-two people are still in
hospital, six of them in a critical condition, health authorities said
today.
Health authorities were awaiting
tests from a further nine people who had visited the aquarium and were suspected
of having the disease. They include one each from New Zealand, the United Kingdom,
the United States and Malaysia.
No new cases have been reported
from a separate outbreak at Cobram in northern Victoria. A spokeswoman for Tourism Council
Australia, which was hosting the lunch at the All Seasons Premier Menzies
Hotel, confirmed that ill-health had prevented Mr Fahey from attending.
Mr Fahey attended a Liberal Party
convention held at the aquarium last month.
LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE
Two more disease cases
Meanwhile, Federal Finance Minister
John Fahey, who is being treated for
legionnaires' disease, today
cancelled an address at a Sydney post-outbreakget lunch.
Source Media
Thursday, May 11, 2000.
NINETY-ONE CASES OF LEGIONNAIRES'
DISEASE
The number of people confirmed with Legionnaires' Disease from an outbreak linked to the Melbourne Aquarium is now 91.
The head of Disease Control at the Human Services Department, Professor William Hart, said 19 people remained in hospital, six of them in a critical condition.
He said a 77-year-old man from Richmond who had been diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease died overnight in Epworth Hospital - bringing to six the number who have died from the illness this year.
"However, the latest death has not been confirmed as being part of the Aquarium outbreak," Professor Hart said.
All the confirmed people, including the two women who died, were aged from 23 to 89. All contracted their illness between April 11 and 25.
Professor Hart said the Department was awaiting test results on a further 16 people who had been to the aquarium and who have developed respiratory illness symptoms. They include one from New Zealand, one from the United Kingdom, one from the United States, one from Malaysia and one from NSW.
Professor Hart said no new cases have been reported from the cluster at Cobram. Two remain in Cobram Hospital in a satisfactory condition. The other two have been discharged.
Source
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/index.htm
91 cases now linked to aquarium
11th. May 2000
Another four people ill with legionnaires' disease has taken the toll in the Melbourne Aquarium outbreak to 91, health authorities said today.
Four more people were confirmed
with the disease today.
Two have died and 19 others
are still in hospital, six in a critical condition.
A 77-year-old man died last night in a Richmond hospital from complications associated with the disease, but health authorities today said they were unable to confirm whether he had contracted legionnaires at the aquarium.
Professor Hart told reporters
that he was confident Human Services staff had
contained a separate outbreak
at Cobram in northern Victoria.
Twenty-eight cooling towers in the area, including the Cobram Hospital and Murray Goulburn Coop, had been dosed over the past two days with biocides after four people became ill with legionnaires.
Two of those are still recovering in a satisfactory condition in hospital, the others were discharged.
The man who died in Melbourne
last night was being treated for the illness at
Epworth Hospital. It appears
he died at 5.40pm of complications from the disease rather than from the infection
itself.
Source Media
Wednesday,
May 10, 2000.
The number of people confirmed
with Legionnaires' Disease from an outbreak linked to the Melbourne Aquarium
is now 87.
The head of Disease Control at
the Human Services Department, Professor William Hart, said the incidence
of new cases was now tapering off, and many of the people affected have
now been discharged from hospital or did not require admission. Only 25 remain in hospital.
He said there were a further
17 possible cases who were awaiting test results - 11 Victorians, one from
NSW, and cases from Tasmania, the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand
and Malaysia.
Prof Hart said cooling towers
in the northern Victorian town of Cobram have been dosed with biocides
as health officials investigate the source of another four cases of Legionnaires'
Disease.
Three town residents are recovering
in hospital and a fourth has been discharged after treatment Prof
Hart, said a woman, 69, a woman, 81, and a man, 61 were being treated in
Cobram Hospital and a woman, 34, was discharged from the Cobram outbreak.
All took ill between April 28 and 30.
Prof Hart said cooling towers
on buildings around the town, including the hospital, had been dosed and
rendered safe.
Water samples were also taken
from the towers before dosing, and are now being tested for the legionella
bacteria.
"The hospital has been alerted
to the outbreak and local doctors have also been asked to be aware of the
need for testing and
"People who develop these symptoms,
or who have concerns about their health, should consider seeing their doctor.
UPDATE ON AQUARIUM LEGIONNAIRES'
DISEASE
treatment for people presenting
with flu-like symptoms," Prof Hart said.
Source
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/index.htm
Incubation period ends for aquarium Legionnaires' Disease outbreak
Tuesday, May 9, 2000.
INCUBATION PERIOD ENDS FOR AQUARIUM
LEGIONNAIRES'
DISEASE OUTBREAK
The incubation period for contracting Legionnaires' Disease associated with the Melbourne Aquarium outbreak has now passed, Victorian health officials said today.
Victoria's Deputy Chief Health Officer, Professor William Hart, said people who visited the Aquarium before the cooling towers were disinfected are no longer in danger of developing the disease from that source.
"The incubation period for Legionnaires' Disease is between two and 10 days and we are now beyond that period," Professor Hart said.
Professor Hart also said test results for legionella bacteria taken from the Aquarium towers last Monday have shown a zero count.
"This result confirms our view that the towers were successfully decontaminated on April 27 when the Aquarium was identified as the likely source of the outbreak.
"The Aquarium was safe to visit once the towers were treated," Professor Hart said.
Five more cases associated with the Aquarium have been confirmed with the total now reaching 81. Two patients have been taken off the critical list, leaving seven in a critical condition.
Of the 81 confirmed cases, 11 have been treated as outpatients and 23 have been discharged from hospital.
Professor Hart said the people, including two women who died, were all aged from 23 to 89. All contracted their illness between April 11 and 25.
Professor Hart said the Department was awaiting results on a further 19 people who had been to the aquarium and had been hospitalised with respiratory illness symptoms. They include one from New Zealand, one from the United Kingdom, one from the United States and three from NSW.
Source.. http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/index.htm
Melbourne 10th May 2000
Third
person dies fromLegionnaires`
Disease
The death toll from Australia's
biggest legionnaires` outbreak has risen to three.
A man suffering from the disease
died yesterday, at Richmond's Epworth hospital, in inner Melbourne.
A spokeswoman for Epworth hospital
has confirmed the man had been ill with Legionnaires` Disease.
She says the hospital believed
the man had visited the Melbourne Aquarium.
The Victorian Human Services
department has not been releasing any details of the death.
Meanwhile health officials are
warning locals from Cobram, in Victoria's north, to be on the look-out
for flu-like symptoms following an outbreak of Legionnaires` Disease.
Four locals were confirmed to
have contracted the disease yesterday, the cases are not linked to the
Melbourne Aquarium outbreak.
Eighty-seven cases connected
to the Aquarium have now been confirmed with the incidence of new cases
tapering off.
Federal Finance Minister John
Fahey has also contracted the disease.
Source Media
Seventy-six
cases of Legionnaires' Disease 8.5.00
Created By: Bram Alexander on
09/05/2000
Monday, May 8, 2000.
Four more cases of Legionnaires'
Disease associated with the Melbourne Aquarium have been confirmed with
the total now reaching 76 - nine of whom remain in a critical condition.
The new critical case is a 67-year-old
man from the United Kingdom who is in intensive care at the Northern Hospital.
Another of the new cases is being
treated at Roseoutbreak hospital and the other two are being treated by their
general practitioners.
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 contracted their illness
between April 11 and 25.
Dr Carnie said the Department
was awaiting test results on a further 25 people who had been to the aquarium
and who have developed respiratory illness symptoms. They include two from
New Zealand,one from the United Kingdom, one from the United States, three
from NSW, three from Tasmania and
Category: Department, Miscellaneous,
Victorian Government
SEVENTY-SIX CASES OF LEGIONNAIRES'
DISEASE
one from Queensland.
Source http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/index.htm
Friday,
May 5, 2000.
One more case of Legionnaires'
Disease associated with the Melbourne Aquarium has been confirmed
with the total now reaching 67 - eight of whom remain in a critical condition.
The new case is a 68-year-old
woman from Gippsland who has been discharged from the Latrobe Regional
Hospital.
Eighteen patients who had been
hospitalised have now been discharged.
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.
Sixty-five of the patients had
visited the aquarium between April 11 and 25. The other two had walked
close by.
SIXTY-SEVEN CASES OF LEGIONNAIRES'
DISEASE
Source
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/index.htm
Toll
now at 81 cases
Five cases of legionnaires' disease
associated with the Melbourne Aquarium have been confirmed by health officials
today.
The total number of people who
are confirmed to have been infected with the disease stands at 81,
with seven people still in hospital.
Victoria's deputy chief health
officer, professor William Hart, said people who had visited the aquarium were no
longer at risk of developing legionnaires' because the incubation period of the bacteria
had passed.
The incubation period for legionnaires'
disease is between two and 10 days and we are now beyond that period,
But Prof. Hart also said more
people may have contracted the disease, and 19 people were currently in
hospital with respiratory illness who had recently visited the aquarium.
Three of the people suspected
of having legionnaires' are from overseas.
9th. May 2000
Source Media
76
cases now confirmed
LEGIONNAIRES' OUTBREAK AT THE
AQUARIUM
8th. May 2000
Seventy-six people who visited
the Melbourne Aquarium have been confirmed to have contracted legionnaires'
disease after another four cases were discovered today.
Nine people are now in a critical
condition, including a 67-year-old man from the United Kingdom who is one
of the new cases.
The Communicable Diseases Manager
at the Department of Human Services, Dr John Carnie, said another 25 people
were suspected of having the disease.
The disease has been linked to
the cooling towers at the Melbourne Aquarium, and is believed one of the worst
legionnaires' outbreaks.
A working party is expected to
report to the State Government this week to recommend how such outbreaks
can be minimised in the future.
Source..Media
Epidemic
now world's second biggest
8th. May 2000
Melbourne's
legionnaires' disease outbreak is probably the second biggest of its type
in the world, an Australian legal expert on the illness said yesterday.
The number of victims of the
outbreak - sourced to air-conditioning towers at the Melbourne Aquarium
between April 11 and 25 - continued to grow yesterday. Three more cases
brought the total to 72, including two deaths.
Melbourne lawyer Peter Redlich
said the local outbreak was likely to be second in size to a 1976 outbreak
in Philadelphia, when 162 people were infected and 77 died. That case was
the first outbreak of the disease, which
Victorian Health Minister John
Thwaites said yesterday Victorian businesses would almost certainly face
tougher regulations aimed at curbing the incidence of legionnaires' disease.
As foreshadowed last week, Mr
Thwaites said recommendations by an expert working party on legionella,
due this week, were likely to result in businesses facing "a tougher, upgraded
system of regulations" to ensure water-based air-conditioner cooling towers
were safe.
The three new cases confirmed
yesterday were a 32-year-old Rosanna man, a 73-year-old Preston man and
a 49-year-old West Preston woman. The two men were discharged from hospital
yesterday. The woman is in a satisfactory condition in St Vincent's Hospital.
A Department of Human Services
spokesperson said a further 30 cases were suspected, including 19 from
Victoria and four from overseas.
A third WA Liberal is believed
to have contracted the disease after attending a Liberal Party function
at the aquarium last month.
He called for a full public inquiry
into the outbreak, hinting that Melbourne Underwater World Pty Ltd, which
occupies the Melbourne Aquarium premises, may not be solely responsible
for the outbreak.
Source Age Melbourne 8th May
2000
got its name because it struck
down members of the American Legion.
One must question these statements being made about the size of the Melbourne outbreak
World Outbreaks
1976 USA 180 cases 28 Deaths
1985 UK 101 cases 28 Deaths
1996 Spain 224 cases 14 Deaths
1999 Netherlands 259 Cases 28 Deaths
2000
Melbourne 91 cases 3 Deaths ( To be
confirmed)
See my position Statement page
at
http://www.q-net.net.au/~legion/Legionnaires_Disease_Position_Statement.htm
for more information
8th May 2000
Number
of legionnaire's cases
The number of confirmed cases
of Legionnaires` Disease, sourced to the Melbourne Aquarium, has risen
to 72.
Three more Victorians have contracted
the disease, with another 30 suspected cases.
Victoria's Human Services Department
says more than 5,000 tests have been done and more cases may be diagnosed.
continue to rise
Source ABC News
Legionnaires`
Disease toll rises to 69
The number of confirmed
cases of legionnaires` Disease in Victoria's
The outbreak, which has claimed
two lives, has been linked to the Melbourne
The latest cases are a 33-year-old
man from the south-east Melbourne suburb of Rowville, and a 63-year-old
man from the inner eastern suburb of Kew.
The Human Services Department
says neither of the two has been hospitalised.
A spokesman says eight of the
69 confirmed cases, all aged between 26 and 89,
May 6th 2000
outbreak has risen to 69.
Aquarium.
remain in a critical condition.
back
Source news.com.au
Friday,
May 5, 2000.
One more case of Legionnaires'
Disease associated with the Melbourne Aquarium has been confirmed with
the total now reaching 67 - eight of whom remain in a critical condition.
The new case is a 68-year-old
woman from Gippsland who has been discharged from the Latrobe Regional
Hospital.
Eighteen patients who had been
hospitalised have now been discharged.
The Communicable Diseases Manager
of the Human Services Department, Dr John Carnie, said thepeople, including
two women who died, were all aged from 26 to 89.
Sixty-five of the patients had
visited the aquarium between April 11 and 25. The other two had walked
close by.
Dr Carnie said the Department
was awaiting test results on a further 42 people who had been to the aquarium
and who have developed respiratory illness symptoms. They include two from
New Zealand, one from the United Kingdom, one from the United States, two
from NSW, three from Tasmania and one from Queensland.
Source Victorian Health Department
SIXTY-SEVEN CASES OF LEGIONNAIRES'
DISEASE
5th May 2000
Aquarium
to replace cooling towers
Melbourne Aquarium will replace
the water-based cooling towers confirmed by
This winter, the aquarium will
install an air-based cooling system, which
"We want to do whatever we can
to guarantee this will never happen again,"
Meanwhile, experts hired by the
aquarium believe they may be a step closer
Preliminary test results indicate
dust containing iron from a nearby
Aquarium staff had advised the
experts of a particularly dusty episode on
Asked why the aquarium had not
installed air-based cooling systems in the
"If we had have known there were
better alternatives then obviously we would
The legionnaires' outbreak continued
to grow yesterday, with eight new
The Department of Human Services
communicable diseases manager, Dr John
A sample from one of the two
towers produced a result of 6900 organisms per
It was impossible to say with
certainty how the bacteria found its way into
Mr Smith said the aquarium had
not contacted victims or their relatives out
"It's a really hollow devastating
feeling that a facility you're so proud of
Officials yesterday tested water
cooling towers at Melbourne Central
Dr Carnie said it was an isolated
case and no outbreak was associated with
5th. May 2000
government tests yesterday to
be the source of Australia's largest
legionnaires' disease outbreak.
cannot be infected with legionella,
of a type recommended in 1996 Federal
Government guidelines.
said the acting general manager
of the aquarium, Tom Smith. The work will
cost about $200,000.
to identifying the cause of
the outbreak.
building site matches dust found
in the towers, Mr Smith said. Iron was
known to promote legionella
growth, he said.
the site a few weeks before
the outbreak, he said.
first place, Mr Smith said they
had not been aware the option existed and
had believed their system was
state of the art.
have looked at that closely,"
he said.
confirmed cases bringing the
total to 66. The death toll remains at two.
Test results on a further 41
possible victims - including people from the
United States, New Zealand and
Britain - are not yet available.
Carnie, said test results that
became available yesterday revealed high
levels of legionella bacteria
in the cooling towers.
millilitre; 1000 organisms per
millilitre represented a "high risk" level,
he said.
the towers, he said, but health
officials were examining how the bacteria
survived in the towers despite
bacteria-killing chemicals.
of respect for their privacy
but invited anyone affected by the outbreak to
contact him.
and which had such an impact
on this country as a tourist attraction can be
identified as a potential cause
of sorrow and hardship," he said.
and the Daimaru department store
for legionella bacteria after a staff
member contracted the deadly
disease.
Melbourne Central.
Source Media
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.
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
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 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
POSITIVE TEST RESULTS ON AQUARIUM
TOWERS
States, four from Tasmania and
one from the United Kingdom.
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.
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
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
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.
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
Melbourne Aquarium's acting general
manager, Tom Smith, told reporters this
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
Thursday 4 May 2000
confirmed cases had risen to
66 people. All but one had been infected after visiting the aquarium.
There is one case that happens
to work there. That case is not linked with any others," Dr Carnie said.
determine what ongoing monitoring
was required, he said.
afternoon management at the
facility were devastated by the outbreak and were
deeply saddened for the victims.
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.
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.
Six hundred people have given
samples after becoming concerned they have Legionnaires` disease.
Two of the overseas victims
visited the Melbourne Aquarium and the other is believed to have caught
Legionnaires` while standing 20m from the building.
At least two victims caught
the disease near the aquarium without entering the building. Nine Victorians
are now critically ill.
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.
It might be an external event
which caused it, he said.It may be some mild event that may have occurred.
The aquarium's biological consultant,
Dr Vyt Garnys, said the rise may be due to outside causes.
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