Man in his 60s died on Thursday, following the death of a woman in her 90s who had presented to hospital on Tuesday
A second person has died after being diagnosed with legionnaires’ disease during an outbreak in Melbourne’s west and north-west.
The man in his 60s became unwell over a week ago and was admitted to hospital, before dying on Thursday.
Continue reading...Chief health officer Clare Looker says woman in her 90s died after becoming ill on Tuesday as others in intensive care battle severe pneumonia
Victoria has recorded 71 confirmed cases of legionnaires’ disease and one person has died from the disease in an outbreak that authorities say they have narrowed down to two suburbs in Melbourne’s west.
Victoria’s chief health officer, Dr Clare Looker, on Friday confirmed the death of a woman aged in her 90s. She said the woman became ill on Tuesday evening and presented to hospital, where she died shortly after.
Continue reading...NSW Health issues warning after multiple people who visited CBD were hospitalised for pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria
Sydneysiders have been urged to stay alert for symptoms of legionnaires’ disease after seven people were hospitalised after contracting the respiratory illness over Christmas and the new year.
New South Wales Health issued an alert on Wednesday afternoon, warning those who had been in the Sydney CBD area in the past 10 days to monitor for symptoms, which can include fever, chills, cough and shortness of breath. The disease can lead to severe chest infections.
Continue reading...Mayor of Portland says ‘buck stops with Suella Braverman’ after it took three days to inform ministers about outbreak
The Home Office should accept responsibility for failing to immediately remove asylum seekers from a giant barge after the detection of a dangerous bacteria, the mayor of Portland has said.
Carralyn Parkes said the “the buck stops with Suella [Braverman]” after Whitehall briefings over the weekend claimed that contractors on the Bibby Stockholm were to blame for delays as it took three days to inform ministers about the outbreak of legionella.
Continue reading...Many issues remain to be resolved after asylum seekers were evacuated on Friday because of a potentially deadly bacteria
The Home Office’s decision to use the Bibby Stockholm barge to accommodate asylum seekers generated controversy long before the first person set foot onboard.
But issues with its use came to a head on Friday when the government confirmed the asylum seekers were being evacuated just days after moving in because of legionella, a potentially deadly bacteria, being found in its water system. While officials have provided a plan to use an RAF base instead, many questions remain.
Continue reading...Asylum seekers removed from Bibby Stockholm after bacteria which can cause serious lung infection found in water
Suella Braverman is under pressure to abandon plans to house asylum seekers on a barge after 39 people had to be removed from the vessel after the discovery of potentially deadly bacteria in the water system.
Ministers said they were concerned contractors knew there were traces of legionella bacteria on the Bibby Stockholm on Monday, when the first asylum seekers boarded the vessel in Portland, Dorset. Officials have insisted the Home Office was not told about the detection until Wednesday when further tests were ordered.
Continue reading...Visitors to the city in the past 10 days advised to look out for symptoms after five people admitted to hospital
People who have visited the Sydney CBD in the past 10 days are being warned to watch out for symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease after five people were admitted to hospital with related cases of pneumonia.
The five people – two women and three men, ranging in age from their 40s to 70s – visited locations in the CBD including Museum station, York St, Park St and Martin Place in the 10 days before their symptoms appeared.
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