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Public health officials are promising an update Wednesday afternoon, two weeks after the first reported cases, about an outbreak of a rare disease that has hospitalized nearly two dozen people and killed one.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit, with help from Public Health Ontario, is in the midst of investigating an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease – a severe respiratory illness that can cause fever, chills and a dry cough.
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The local public health agency will hold a media briefing Wednesday at 2 p.m. to provide an update on the outbreak.
Before the long weekend, the tally of confirmed cases sat at 22, with one fatality who wasn’t publicly identified. All cases were treated in hospital at some point during the course of their illness, officials with the health unit have said.
The search for the source of legionella, the bacteria that causes legionnaires’ disease, had been confined to a five-kilometre radius in southeast London, which also has not been publicly identified. Most of the cases have been people who live or work in the area, health unit officials have said.
Samples of warm water systems are being taken in the area, which are sent to Public Health Ontario to test for the bacteria. Officials have said it’s possible no source will be identified as the outbreak ends by itself.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit was notified on July 24 about a cluster of cases that first appeared to be pneumonia. Two days later, officials declared an outbreak of legionella.
The legionella bacteria can be found in warm water sources such as air-conditioning systems, hot water tanks and heaters and plumbing systems.
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Legionnaires’ disease is not considered contagious in person-to-person transmission, but it can be spread when the bacteria is spread by fans or wind and people breathe it in.
Symptoms of legionnaires’ disease usually begin two to 10 days after a person is exposed to the bacteria. Those most at risk are older, have lung problems or are immune-compromised.
Outbreaks of legionnaires’ disease 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 as a result.
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.
jmoulton@postmedia.com
@jackmoulton65
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