Overview
- Victoria has confirmed six Legionnaires' disease cases linked to time spent in Craigieburn and nearby northern suburbs, with all patients hospitalised.
- The Chief Health Officer urged anyone who was in Craigieburn, Mickleham, Greenvale or Roxburgh Park from late February to seek urgent care if flu-like symptoms develop.
- Investigators are sampling cooling towers and other local water systems to locate the source, which remains unconfirmed.
- The illness begins with fever, chills, muscle aches and cough, poses higher risk to older adults, smokers and people with weakened immunity, and is treatable with antibiotics.
- Health services have been placed on alert to test for Legionella, report suspected cases immediately, and assess patients who recently travelled through the area.