Legionnaire's detected 'kilometres' from source as outbreak climbs to 107 cases

The number of cases in a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Melbourne has climbed to 107, with some people infected "kilometres" from the source of the bacteria.

Two elderly people have died from the condition since the first case was recorded on July 26, traced back to a cooling tower in Laverton North, in the city's west.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Looker said that due to recent weather conditions, some people may have been infected while kilometres from the cooling tower.

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"What our most recent genomic samples have confirmed is that there have been cases infected, with those who are a number of kilometres from this site," Looker said.

"There has been a broader than usual dispersion of Legionella from this cooling tower. 

"So we do believe that it's travelled a number of kilometres and caused infections."

Despite this, Looker said she was confident the state had passed the peak of its Legionella outbreak.

She confirmed that 107 people had been infected to date, with five more cases suspected.

At least 103 people had spent some time in hospital with the infection.

No further deaths had been recorded.

Looker stressed that anyone who may have visited the Laverton or Derrimut and had developed symptoms should be tested.

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Most of the cases are in adults aged over 40 and many have required hospitalisation, with a number of admissions to intensive care after they developed severe community acquired pneumonia.

Investigators have visited dozens of cooling towers in the Metropolitan area and most cases linked to the outbreak are believed to have been exposed between July 5 and July 20, with symptoms starting on or after July 15.

Legionnaires' disease is a rare but severe form of bacterial pneumonia which can cause a chest infection with symptoms of fever, chills, cough, headache and muscle aches and pains and atypical symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and confusion.

Health authorities are urging anyone who shows signs of the disease to seek urgent medical help.

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