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Six individuals in Craigieburn and adjacent northern suburbs have been diagnosed with a severe respiratory illness since early March, according to recent reports.
All affected patients have been hospitalized for treatment.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. Caroline McElnay, has issued a warning urging anyone who has lived, worked, or visited Craigieburn, Mickleham, Greenvale, and Roxburgh Park since late February and is experiencing flu-like symptoms to seek immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of Legionnaire’s disease often resemble those of the flu, including headaches, chills, muscle aches, and a persistent cough, but can escalate into atypical pneumonia.
Additional symptoms may involve confusion, diarrhea, and potential kidney impairment.
Health professionals are advised to be alert to the possibility of Legionnaires’ disease in patients, including people who may have travelled along the Hume Highway and stopped for food or petrol in the area.
Authorities are investigating the source of the outbreak, testing local cooling towers and other potential sources.
Legionnaires’ disease is a lung infection caused by Legionella bacteria, which are widespread in the environment.
They are found in natural bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, creeks and hot springs, as well as spas, warm water systems and artificial systems that use water for cooling, heating or industrial processes, such as cooling towers, as well as potting mix.
The disease is spread by breathing in fine droplets of water that contain the bacteria, but cannot be spread from person-to-person or by drinking contaminated water.
Legionnaires’ can be treated with antibiotics, but it can be deadly if symptoms aren’t treated promptly.
Over 65s, smokers, excess alcohol drinkers and people with underlying health conditions at greater risk of infection.
Victoria’s last major outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease was linked to a cooling tower in Laverton North in late July of 2024.
The outbreak led to more than 100 confirmed cases and two deaths.
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