Elderly man dead following Sydney Legionnaires’ outbreak

An elderly man has died after an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Sydney's CBD.

A total of nine people have been confirmed to have contracted the fatal disease since late February, which is believed to have been spread by a contaminated cooling tower in the Town Hall area of the city.

The same strain of the disease was found in an 80-year-old man who died over the weekend.

NSW Health communicable diseases director Dr Vicky Sheppeard said he also had a "serious underlying condition".

The state government is confident the crisis is now over.

"No cases of legionnaires' disease linked to the Sydney CBD have developed since 4 March, suggesting the outbreak may be over," Dr Stewart said.

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection of the lungs that can develop after someone breathes contaminated water vapour or dust.

Cooling towers are being inspected in an area bounded by Kent, Druitt, Pitt and Bathurst streets.

Inspections were also conducted around Sussex and Elizabeth streets last week.