Vic: Legionnaires' outbreak unknown, towers disinfected
By Charisse Ede and Barbara Adam
MELBOURNE, April 18 AAP - The exact source of an outbreak of Legionnaires' diseasein Melbourne's city centre won't be known for at least a week.
Victoria's chief health officer John Carnie said cooling tower systems at 31 sitesaround Collins and Swanston streets were being inspected, tested and disinfected today.
"Samples taken as part of the investigation are now being analysed," he said.
"But results will not be known for at least seven days."
Yesterday, it was revealed three men had contracted the potentially fatal disease,all after visiting buildings surrounding the busy city centre intersection late last month.
Two of the men have been discharged from hospital while the third is still undergoing treatment.
It is the second outbreak of the disease around the country.
In Perth, traces of the disease were found at a city hospital during a post-mortemexamination of a patient who died of pneumonia.
An infection control team at the Sir Charles Gairdner (Gairdner) Hospital are conductingmore tests for the disease.
The hospital's clinical microbiologist Clay Golledge told ABC Radio three people werebeing tested for legionella bacteria and some equipment had also been removed from thehospital for examination.
Dr Carnie said the public did not need to be concerned about visiting the area in Melbourne'scity centre.
"There is no need for people not to go about normal activities in the city," he said.
"The city is safe for workers and visitors."
Victorian Health Minister John Thwaites complimented authorities on their handling of the cases.
"Overall we are seeing a much more rapid response now to legionnaires' disease andwe are getting a reduction in cases, which is a good thing," he said.
Anyone with flu-like symptoms who worked or visited the Melbourne area in the pastthree to four weeks is being urged to seek medical attention.
The illness causes headache, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, followed by respiratoryproblems and pneumonia developing over three or four days.
Onset can be up to 10 days after the initial contact with the bacteria.
AAP ce/gfr/mg/de
KEYWORD: LEGIONNAIRES NIGHTLEAD
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий