Four people hospitalised after outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Melbourne’s south-east

Four people have been hospitalised after an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Cranbourne.

All four people, aged 45 to 78, who contracted the disease were linked to an area neighbouring the Cranbourne shopping centre since February this year.

The Department of Health & Human Services has arranged samples from several cooling towers in the suburb, which are in the vicinity of the shopping centre.

The towers were thoroughly disinfected.

People who may be suffering from pneumonia or flu-like symptoms should visit their GP, who will assess and advise on the need for testing for Legionnaires’ disease,” Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Charles Guest said.

Symptoms of the disease include headache, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, followed by respiratory problems and pneumonia developing over three or four days.

The onset can be up to 10 days after the initial contact with the bacteria.

Higher-risk people include those aged over 50, smokers, heavy drinkers, diabetics or people with chronic lung disease and those with a low immune system.

The bacteria occurs naturally in the environment and is produced in water and soil.

Professor Guest said it could be up to 10 days before the results from the Cranbourne tower sampling were determined.

Forty-seven people have contracted Legionnaires’ disease this year, compared to 28 cases for the same period last year.