NSW Health is asking people to monitor the symptoms of legionnaire’s disease, after five people have developed the disease in the last three weeks they have spent time in the area.
The two women and three men independently visited sites between Museum Station, York Street, Park Street and Martin Place during the 10 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
New South Wales authorities have issued a health warning to those who have been in Sydney’s CBD for the past 10 days (Renee Nowytarger / SMH)
The five people, aged between 40 and 70, have been identified with the bacterium that causes the legionnaire’s disease and have been admitted to hospital for treatment for pneumonia.
NSW Health says symptoms of legionnaire’s disease, including fever, chills, coughing and difficulty breathing, can develop for up to 10 days from the time of exposure.
It can cause serious chest infections such as pneumonia and usually requires treatment with antibiotics in the hospital.
The bacterium that causes legionnaire’s disease is often associated with contaminated cooling towers of large buildings.
NSW Health is asking people to monitor the symptoms of legionnaire’s disease, after five people have developed the disease in the last three weeks they have spent time in the area. (AP)
People can be exposed to bacteria if particles of contaminated water are released into the air through cooling systems and then inhaled.
NSW Health environmental health officials are now working with the City of Sydney to assess cooling towers in the CBD to discover potential sources of the outbreak.
These five cases follow a series of recently identified cases of legionary disease throughout Sydney.