Outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in metropolitan Melbourne

Western Public Health Unit is working alongside The Department of Health to investigate an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease with many cases notified across metropolitan Melbourne and surrounding areas since Friday 26 July.

For more information on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in metropolitan Melbourne, the Western Public Health Unit (WPHU) recommends reading the Health alert issued by the Victorian Department of Health, which is available by clicking here.

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia and is also known as Legionellosis. Legionnaires’ disease appears as a chest infection with symptoms of fever, chills, cough, headache and muscle aches and pains. Other less common symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and confusion. Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person. 

Recommendations

For the public

• People who live in, work in or have visited metropolitan Melbourne and surrounding areas, and develop symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, should seek urgent medical care.

For clinicians

• Consider Legionnaires’ disease in patients presenting with compatible symptoms who live in, work in or have visited metropolitan Melbourne and surrounding areas.
• If you suspect Legionnaires’ disease, request urinary antigen testing through your normal pathology provider. As a priority, order Legionella culture on sputum and serology on blood. Serology samples should be taken at symptom onset and 3 to 6 weeks later (as convalescent serology).
• Early diagnosis and treatment with appropriate antibiotics is important. Refer to the current edition of the Therapeutic Guidelines for treatment guidelines or consult with your local infectious diseases service.
• Legionnaires’ disease is an urgent notifiable condition that must be notified to the Department of Health upon initial diagnosis or clinical suspicion as soon as practicable and within 24 hours by calling 1300 651 160 and connecting to the relevant Local Public Health Unit. If you’re in the Western Public Health Unit catchment, call WPHU on 1800 497 111 to notify suspected cases.