Outbreak of legionnaires' disease expected to grow as cooling towers are disinfected
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Victoria's Department of Health has announced a health alert for legionnaires' disease after a significant increase in cases across metropolitan Melbourne and surrounding areas.

Key Points

  • The Victorian Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in Melbourne.
  • There have been 22 confirmed and 6 suspected 33 confirmed and 10 suspected cases notified since Friday afternoon. as of Tuesday afternoon.
  • The disease can cause a chest infection with symptoms of fever, chills, cough, headache and muscle aches and pains.

On Monday, Victoria’s Department of Health issued an alert advising people who live in, work in or have visited metropolitan Melbourne and surrounding areas to be on alert for symptoms of the disease.

“If you start feeling unwell, you’ve got a dry cough, you’re getting a bit of a fever, go to your physician straight away. The sooner you treat it, the better the outcome is,” he said.

Symptoms typically occur between two and 10 days after exposure. The disease is treated with antibiotics, as the bacteria is resistant to penicillin.