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By XAVIER LA CANNA THE AGE ONLINE
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Workmen examine one of the air-conditioning
cooling towers on the third floor of The Age building in Spencer
Street after it was announced that two staff members have
developed legionnaires' disease.
Picture: JOHN DONEGAN |
An employee
of The Age is in intensive care following an outbreak of legionnaires'
disease in the company's building at the corner of Spencer and
Lonsdale streets.
All of the
1250 staff at the building were today warned to seek urgent medical
attention if they began suffering flu-like symptons after two
staff were last night confirmed to have contracted the disease.
A 57-year-old
woman affected by the disease is severely ill according to a representative
of the Department of Human
Services who addressed staff at 1pm today. A 44-year-old man is
recovering.
The department
confirmed the cases last night, but assured the company an evacuation
of The Age's staff from the Spencer Street building was unnecessary.
The legionella
bacteria, which occurs naturally in the environ ment, is linked
to air- conditioning units.
A full cleaning
and decontamination of the building's air-conditioning cooling
towers was taking place today after results just received from
samples taken on January 19 confirmed the presence of the disease.
An internal
memo said The Age had complied with new laws designed to minimise
the chances of air-conditioning cooling towers harboring the disease.
The laws were introduced after 93 people contracted the disease
at the Melbourne Aquarium last May.
"The
Age carries out regular monthly testing which includes not only
full bacteria count testing but specifically tests for legionella.
Complete cleaning and disinfection of the towers are carried out
every three months," the memo said.
In the address
to staff the department representative said other buildings near
The Age were also being tested.
He said people
who walked past the building were also at minimal risk of contracting
the disease.
Symptoms of
the disease include headache, fever, chills, muscle aches and
pains followed by respiratory problems and pneumonia developing
over three or four days. The illness can take up to 10 days to
develop.
People at
high risk of contracting the disease include those aged over 50,
heavy smokers, heavy drinkers, diabetics, people with chronic
lung disease and those with impaired body defences, a news release
from the department said.
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