Christchurch Legionnaires outbreak contained - CDHB

  • Breaking
  • 25/06/2015

Canterbury health officials are confident there's no longer a risk to public health following an outbreak of Legionnaires disease. 

Six adults have been hospitalised with the potentially deadly illness since April, but there have been no new cases in a month.  The source of the disease was initially tracked to the suburbs of Woolston, Ferrymead and Hillsborough.

It's believed water-based cooling systems carried the bacteria which caused the outbreak and the board has been helping local businesses clean their systems.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink says the most recent case of Legionnaires was notified on May 25.

"It has now been a month since the last case linked to the Hillsborough industrial area was notified to us," he says.

"The fact there's been no new cases is a tribute to local businesses who have heeded our call to treat their cooling towers."

Several people die of Legionnaires' disease every year in New Zealand and most strands are associated with the cooling systems in office buildings and potting mix.

Older people, smokers and people with weak immune systems are the most susceptible.

3 News

source: newshub archive