Vic: Seek Legionella test, RMH tells sick former patients

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2000
Vic: Seek Legionella test, RMH tells sick former patients

Patients or visitors to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in early December who have since
developed flu-like symptoms have been advised to undergo tests for legionnaire's disease.

The call -- from the hospital -- follows the death of a patient on December 12, who's
one of four people who may have contracted the disease in the hospital in recent weeks.

A hospital spokeswoman says staff are being given the same advice to seek testing if
they've had flu-like symptoms.

The patient who died apparently contracted the disease after entering the hospital
in late November.

The hospital is holding tests to establish whether the bacteria strain from which the
man died is the same as that identified in two of its cooling towers.

The disease is acquired through breathing fine droplets of water which contain the
Legionella bacteria.

The hospital has also revealed three other people have been treated for the condition
and it's likely at least two contracted it in the hospital.

The spokeswoman says two of those have been discharged after treatment and the third
is in a stable condition in the hospital.

AAP RTV sjg/jtb/wz

KEYWORD: LEGIONELLA (MELBOURNE)

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