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One new case of the potentially deadly legionnaires’ disease has been detected locally over the last week, London-area public health officials said Monday amid an outbreak that has four people still recovering in hospital.
There have now been 25 local cases, officials with the Middlesex-London Health Unit said, including one death. All cases were treated in hospital at some point during the course of their illness, officials said.
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The public health agency said it still hasn’t pinpointed the outbreak’s origin, noting that “any locations that show evidence of legionella bacteria through preliminary testing have been sanitized – removing any threat to the community.”
Legionella is the bacteria that causes legionnaires’ disease
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe respiratory infection that can cause fever, chills and a dry cough. The bacteria responsible can be found in warm water sources such as air-conditioning systems, hot water tanks and heaters and plumbing systems.
London’s public health agency had found evidence of bacteria in several water systems they’ve tested as they continue to investigate.
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The health unit says its investigation into the source of the illness will likely be “lengthy” but may not be conclusive. The probe includes sampling warm-water systems within a five- to 10-kilometre radius of an area in southeast London. Samples are being sent to Public Health Ontario for testing.
Local officials were notified on July 24 about a cluster of cases that first appeared to be pneumonia. Two days later, officials declared an outbreak of legionella. Most of the cases have been people who live or work in the same five-kilometre area of southeast London, officials say, though they haven’t publicly identified the exact area.
Patients in hospital are receiving varying degrees of treatment, from intravenous antibiotics to intubation, Joanne Kearon, the health unit’s associate medical officer of health, has said.
Those most at risk include are older, have lung problems or are immune-compromised. Though not considered contagious in person-to-person transmission, legionnaires’ disease can be spread when the bacteria is spread by fans or wind.
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The health unit has said there is no “broad risk” to the public in the outbreak, and it is not recommending any changes in behaviour.
While sporadic cases of legionnaires’ disease are common, outbreaks are rare. The last one in London, in 2019, sent six people to hospital.
Legionnaires’ disease got its name in 1976 following an outbreak of pneumonia that occurred among delegates to an American Legion convention at a Philadelphia hotel. Twenty-nine people died.
To learn more about how to prevent the disease, click here.
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