Legionnaires outbreak in Sydney

A third person has been confirmed to have legionnaires' disease after they spent time in Lidcombe's industrial area in western Sydney.

The Western Sydney Local Health District's public health director, Shopna Bag, said all three contracted the infection by breathing in bacteria which is found in water sources such as cooling towers.

The bacteria has been traced to a water cooling system on a Lidcombe building that has since been decontaminated.

Lidcombe residents and recent visitors to the western Sydney suburb are being warned to go to their GP if they experience symptoms of legionnaires' disease, which include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath.