Legionnaires' disease outbreak: Victoria's largest identified outbreak

Authors

  • Neil Formica Communicable Diseases Section, Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria; Master of Applied Epidemiology Program, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
  • Graham Tallis Communicable Diseases Section, Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria
  • Bernard Zwolak Environmental Health Unit, Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria
  • John Carnie Communicable Diseases Section, Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria
  • Mary Beers Environmental Health Unit, Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria
  • Geoff Hogg Microbiological Diagnostic Unit, Microbiology and Immunology Department, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria; Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, North Melbourne, Victoria
  • Norbert Ryan Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, North Melbourne, Victoria
  • Maria Yates Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, North Melbourne, Victoria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2000.24.31

Keywords:

legionellosis, surveillance, urinary antigen, cooling towers, environmental health, outbreak

Abstract

This paper describes and analyses some aspects of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Victoria, commencing in late October 1998. In all, 18 cases caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 were notified within 10 days making this the largest outbreak in Victoria reported to that date. All cases had epidemiological links to an industrial estate in a northern Melbourne suburb. Extensive environmental sampling revealed Legionella bacteria in five cooling towers. Molecular subtyping techniques were used to compare clinical and environmental isolates. Isolates from one tower had a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern that was indistinguishable from clinical isolates from eight cases. Control of outbreaks caused by Legionella bacteria requires rapid, coordinated responses to linked cases of disease. The Legionella urinary antigen test facilitated a rapid public health response, and culture and molecular subtyping of clinical specimens assisted in developing epidemiological links. Commun Dis Intell 2000;24:199-202.

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Published

31/07/00

How to Cite

Formica, Neil, Graham Tallis, Bernard Zwolak, John Carnie, Mary Beers, Geoff Hogg, Norbert Ryan, and Maria Yates. 2000. “Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak: Victoria’s Largest Identified Outbreak”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 24 (July):199-202. https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2000.24.31.

Issue

Vol. 24 (2000)

Section

Original article

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