Fed: Killer bacteria found in two states
Health authorities in two states are investigating possible outbreaks of the potentiallyfatal legionnaires' disease.
In Victoria, three men who visited the same area of Melbourne's city centre last monthhave contracted legionnaires' disease.
And in Perth, traces of the disease have been found at a city hospital during a postmortem examination of a patient who died of pneumonia.
An infection control team at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital are conducting moretests for the disease.
The hospital's clinical microbiologist CLAY GOLLEDGE has told ABC Radio three peopleare being tested for legionella bacteria and some equipment has also been removed fromthe hospital for examination.
In the Victorian cases, two of the men have been discharged from hospital while thethird is still undergoing treatment.
Victoria's chief health officer JOHN CARNIE says the mandatory registration of coolingtower treatment has made it easier to pinpoint the causes of legionnaires' outbreaks.
He's urged anyone with flu-like symptoms who worked or visited the area in the pastthree to four weeks to seek medical attention.
AAP RTV bja/clr/tb/jas
KEYWORD: LEGIONNAIRES (MELBOURNE)
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