London, Ont., public health officials have declared an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in the region, which officials say has left one person dead and more than 40 others infected.
The Middlesex-London health unit says there have been 43 cases of legionnaires’ disease in the city of London this year, one of which led to the death of the individual, according to a July 8 news release.
Most of the cases took place over the last week and nearly all of the affected individuals live or work within a six-kilometre radius of one another in the southeast side of the city, health officials say.
Legionnaires’ disease is a “serious” respiratory illness caused by Legionella bacteria, which can lead to pneumonia and be life-threatening in severe cases, according to the health unit. Following exposure to the bacteria, symptoms usually develop within two to 10 days and can include high fever, chills, dry cough, and shortness of breath.
“Legionella bacteria are naturally found in water sources such as hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems or parts of air-conditioning systems,” the health unit said. “If the bacteria are then aerosolized or misted into the air (via wind or fans), people may inhale the bacteria and become unwell.”
While most people exposed to the bacteria do not become ill, some individuals could also experience a more mild illness known as Pontiac fever, which causes flu-like symptoms and generally resolves itself in two to five days.
Older individuals, those who have lung problems, or those with compromised immune systems are said to be at a greater risk of serious infection from the bacteria. The health unit says that the bacteria is not transmitted from person-to-person.
The health unit is not currently recommending community-wide mask use to prevent the disease as it says “public risk related to legionella is low.” Those who develop symptoms of legionnaires’ disease are advised to seek medical attention as needed.
The Middlesex-London health unit says it is working with Public Health Ontario and the Public Health Ontario Laboratories to investigate and identify the source of the legionnaires’ disease outbreak. The investigation “may take time” as agencies sample potential sources including various types of cooling systems, the health unit says.
The Middlesex-London health unit is asking all business owners and property managers to ensure cooling equipment is regularly maintained and sanitized, which it says is the “best way” to reduce the risk of further outbreaks.
‘Never Definitively Found’
“Sometimes in investigations like this one the source of the bacteria is never definitively found, though the outbreak may naturally end,” the health unit said.
A similar legionnaires’ disease outbreak occurred in the city of London last year; however, the health unit cannot yet confirm if this year’s outbreak is in the same location as last year’s.
There were 30 confirmed cases of infection by legionella between May 1 and Sept. 26 last year, according to an Oct. 11, 2024, news release declaring the end of last year’s outbreak. All individuals were hospitalized, while nine were admitted to the intensive care unit, and two individuals died. The affected individuals ranged in age from 37 to 87 and more than two-thirds were males.
The health unit collected samples from 18 cooling tower sites that were close to where the cases occurred, but no samples matched the legionella bacteria identified in the outbreak cases.
The outbreak was considered to have concluded after 24 days had passed since any new cases were developed, the release says.
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