Severe disease alert issued for NSW after Legionnaires' outbreak detected among people in inner-Sydney suburb
People who have been in the area of Potts Point in the past 10 days should be aware of symptoms of the disease, which include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath.
Three people aged between their 40s and 70s have recently developed the illness and are not known to each other.
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit Director Dr Vicky Sheppeard said all three people are now in hospital.
'People can be exposed to the bacteria if contaminated water particles from a cooling system are emitted into the air and breathed in,' Dr Sheppeard said.
'Legionnaires' disease can develop up to 10 days after exposure. Symptoms include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath and may lead to severe chest infections such as pneumonia.
'People who develop this disease are diagnosed by a urine or sputum test and chest X-ray and usually require antibiotic treatment in hospital. Those most at risk are elderly people, people with underlying lung or other serious health conditions, and people who smoke.'
Legionnaires' disease is a form of atypical pneumonia caused by species of Legionella bacteria. It can't spread from person to person.
Outbreaks can occur when bacteria from environmental sources such as cooling towers above large buildings become contaminated.
The state's environmental health officers are working closely with the City of Sydney and have inspected and sampled all cooling towers within 500 metres of the homes of residents.
All managers of cooling water systems in the area of investigation have been informed to disinfect their systems.
Building owners should ensure cooling towers on their sites are operated and maintained in compliance with the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022.
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READ MORE: How COVID, flu, RSV are tracking this winter - and how to protect yourself Seven residents in one NSW suburb have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. The outbreak in Potts Point, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, has led to all seven hospitalised with the disease. This included a man in his eighties, who became unwell in late June and died from the infection. Five of the other patients have returned home and one is recovering in the hospital. None of the patients are known to each other; however, they may have been exposed to a common source of infection in the area, NSW Health said. South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit director Dr Vicky Sheppeard said that while no Legionella bacteria have been found so far, investigations are continuing. "The District has requested building owners disinfect their cooling towers on two occasions since the investigation began in June," Dr Sheppeard said. READ MORE: Inside aged care: what our elderly Australians are eating may shock you "People who have recently been in Potts Point and develop these symptoms should see their GP or go to a hospital emergency department." Legionnaires' disease is an uncommon infection of the lungs (pneumonia) caused by Legionella bacteria. The bacteria are commonly found in the environment, particularly in water and soil. Infection occurs two to 10 days after a person breathes in the bacteria in contaminated water vapours or dust. READ MORE: How COVID, flu, RSV are tracking this winter - and how to protect yourself Seven residents in one NSW suburb have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. The outbreak in Potts Point, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, has led to all seven hospitalised with the disease. This included a man in his eighties, who became unwell in late June and died from the infection. Five of the other patients have returned home and one is recovering in the hospital. 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