Via adelaidenow.com.au: Changing weather putting SA at risk from potentially fatal Legionnaires disease. Excerpt:
Current changing weather conditions could put South Australians at risk of potentially fatal Legionellosis, commonly known as Legionnaires disease, SA Health has warned.
Business owners and operators are being encouraged to ensure water cooling towers are registered and correctly maintained due to the risk of bacteria.
Director of public health Dr Kevin Buckett said while Legionella bacteria was commonly found in the environment, they could rapidly grow to dangerous levels when weather fluctuated.
"The weather recently has been quite varied meaning cooling towers may operate intermittently, increasing the risk of the bacteria being released into the environment," Dr Buckett said.
"The bacteria could cause serious respiratory illness such as Legionellosis, which is particularly harmful to the elderly and those with compromised immune systems."
He said the illness was contracted by breathing in the bacteria but it was not passed from person to person.
In the past month, three cases of Legionellosis have been reported in Adelaide.
Officers from state and local government are investigating.
