Legionnaires' Outbreak At The Age

By XAVIER LA CANNA THE AGE ONLINE

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.