SYDNEY, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The health authority in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has issued a public alert over legionnaires' disease, as three cases were recently confirmed in Sydney.
The NSW Ministry of Health reported on Thursday that since late January, two men in their 60s and one woman in her 70s have spent time in areas near Victoria Park in Camperdown, including parts of the University of Sydney Camperdown campus.
According to the ministry, all three patients were admitted to hospital and have since been released.
Legionnaires' disease is an infection of the lungs, which is caused by Legionella bacteria. The bacteria are commonly found in the environment, particularly water and soil.
Isabel Hess, deputy clinical director of public health in Sydney Local Health District, said that people could be exposed to the bacteria if contaminated water particles from a cooling system are emitted into the air and breathed in.
"Legionnaires' disease is not spread from person to person. Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease can develop up to 10 days from the time of exposure to contaminated water particles in the air and include fever, chills, a cough, and shortness of breath and may lead to severe chest infections such as pneumonia," said Hess.
One cooling tower at the Camperdown campus of the University of Sydney returned a positive result for low levels of legionella bacteria. The health ministry noted that the tower has been decontaminated. ■
