Latest news with #VickySheppeard
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
One dead after legionnaires' outbreak
One person has died following an outbreak of legionnaires' disease in Sydney's CBD prompting authorities to issue a health alert. NSW Health said 12 people who spent time in the city and surrounding suburbs between March and April had contracted the deadly disease. 'Sadly, one of the people who contracted the disease passed away in hospital last week,' a NSW Health spokesman said on Wednesday. Authorities tested more than 165 cooling towers in the city and detected legionella bacteria in one. The cooling tower is being decontaminated and further tests are being conducted to determine if it was the source of the outbreak. Anyone who was in the Sydney CBD and surrounding suburbs between March and April is urged to be aware of symptoms including fever, chills, coughing and shortness of breath. Symptoms can develop up to 10 days after exposure and anyone who experiences symptoms should see their doctor. South Eastern Sydney Local Heath District Public Health Unit Director Vicky Sheppeard said 11 people with the disease had been hospitalised and one person received care out of hospital. 'Legionnaires' disease is caused by infection with legionella bacteria,' Dr Sheppeard said. 'Outbreaks sometimes occur when bacteria from environmental sources such as cooling towers atop large buildings become contaminated. It is not spread from person to person. 'NSW Health continues to work closely with the City of Sydney to identify, inspect and sample any cooling towers in the CBD potentially implicated in the outbreak. 'Most building owners have responded quickly to ensure that their cooling towers are operated and maintained in compliance with the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Urgent warning as disease hits major city
An urgent health warning has been issued for people in an inner Sydney suburb amid several confirmed cases of legionnaires' disease. Three people from Potts Point, aged between their 40s and 70s and unknown to one another, have contracted the disease, NSW Health have confirmed. NSW Health is advising anyone who visited the Potts Point area between June 8 and June 18 to be vigilant and monitor symptoms of the disease. Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection caused by the legionella bacteria, and can trigger symptoms including a fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath. Without treatment, the disease can be fatal. The disease is not spread person to person and can sometimes be caused by environmental sources such as a cooling tower atop a large building, which can become contaminated by the bacteria. South Eastern Sydney local health district public health unit director Vicky Sheppeard said all three of those who contracted the disease have been admitted to hospital. 'People can be exposed to the bacteria if contaminated water particles from a cooling system are emitted into the air and breathed in,' Dr Sheppeard said. 'Legionnaires' disease can develop up to 10 days after exposure. 'Symptoms include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath and may lead to severe chest infections such as pneumonia. 'People who develop this disease are diagnosed by a urine or sputum test and chest X-ray and usually require antibiotic treatment in hospital. 'Those most at risk are elderly people, people with underlying lung or other serious health conditions, and people who smoke.' NSW Health confirmed they were working alongside the City of Sydney and have completed samples of all cooling towers with a 500m radius of the resident's homes. All managers of cooling water systems have been urged to disinfect their systems. 'Building owners should ensure that their cooling towers are operated and maintained in compliance with the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022,' a statement read. The outbreak comes after a previous outbreak of Legionnaires' disease between March and April this year, which infected 12 people and left one dead. NSW Health confirmed 11 were hospitalised during the outbreak and another was treated out of the hospital. All of those infected had spent time in the Sydney CBD between March 13 and April 5. In April, a man in his 50s died from the infection after contracting the disease nearly a month earlier.
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Health
- Sky News AU
Severe disease alert issued for NSW after Legionnaires' outbreak detected among people in inner-Sydney suburb
Health officials have warned locals and anyone who has visited an inner-city Sydney suburb to look out for Legionnaires' disease following an outbreak of the illness. People who have been in the area of Potts Point in the past 10 days should be aware of symptoms of the disease, which include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath. Three people aged between their 40s and 70s have recently developed the illness and are not known to each other. South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit Director Dr Vicky Sheppeard said all three people are now in hospital. 'People can be exposed to the bacteria if contaminated water particles from a cooling system are emitted into the air and breathed in,' Dr Sheppeard said. 'Legionnaires' disease can develop up to 10 days after exposure. Symptoms include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath and may lead to severe chest infections such as pneumonia. 'People who develop this disease are diagnosed by a urine or sputum test and chest X-ray and usually require antibiotic treatment in hospital. Those most at risk are elderly people, people with underlying lung or other serious health conditions, and people who smoke.' Legionnaires' disease is a form of atypical pneumonia caused by species of Legionella bacteria. It can't spread from person to person. Outbreaks can occur when bacteria from environmental sources such as cooling towers above large buildings become contaminated. The state's environmental health officers are working closely with the City of Sydney and have inspected and sampled all cooling towers within 500 metres of the homes of residents. All managers of cooling water systems in the area of investigation have been informed to disinfect their systems. Building owners should ensure cooling towers on their sites are operated and maintained in compliance with the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Urgent health warning after three people contract legionnaires' disease in Potts Point, Sydney
An urgent health warning has been issued for people in an inner Sydney suburb amid several confirmed cases of legionnaires' disease. Three people from Potts Point, aged between their 40s and 70s and unknown to one another, have contracted the disease, NSW Health have confirmed. NSW Health is advising anyone who visited the Potts Point area between June 8 and June 18 to be vigilant and monitor symptoms of the disease. Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection caused by the legionella bacteria, and can trigger symptoms including a fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath. Without treatment, the disease can be fatal. The disease is not spread person to person and can sometimes be caused by environmental sources such as a cooling tower atop a large building, which can become contaminated by the bacteria. South Eastern Sydney local health district public health unit director Vicky Sheppeard said all three of those who contracted the disease have been admitted to hospital. 'People can be exposed to the bacteria if contaminated water particles from a cooling system are emitted into the air and breathed in,' Dr Sheppeard said. 'Legionnaires' disease can develop up to 10 days after exposure. 'Symptoms include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath and may lead to severe chest infections such as pneumonia. 'People who develop this disease are diagnosed by a urine or sputum test and chest X-ray and usually require antibiotic treatment in hospital. 'Those most at risk are elderly people, people with underlying lung or other serious health conditions, and people who smoke.' NSW Health confirmed they were working alongside the City of Sydney and have completed samples of all cooling towers with a 500m radius of the resident's homes. All managers of cooling water systems have been urged to disinfect their systems. 'Building owners should ensure that their cooling towers are operated and maintained in compliance with the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022,' a statement read. The outbreak comes after a previous outbreak of Legionnaires' disease between March and April this year, which infected 12 people and left one dead. NSW Health confirmed 11 were hospitalised during the outbreak and another was treated out of the hospital. All of those infected had spent time in the Sydney CBD between March 13 and April 5. In April, a man in his 50s died from the infection after contracting the disease nearly a month earlier.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Australia health emergency: Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Sydney's Potts Point, 3 hospitalised; symptoms and how to stay safe
Health authorities have issued a public warning after three people were hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Potts Point, prompting fears of a possible airborne outbreak linked to contaminated cooling systems. The patients aged between their 40s and 70s do not know each other, yet all developed the same bacterial infection within a short period. They are now receiving treatment in the hospital, according to Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director of the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit. 'People can be exposed to the bacteria if contaminated water particles from a cooling system are emitted into the air and breathed in,' Dr Sheppeard said. NSW Health is urging anyone who has visited or lives in Potts Point over the past 10 days to remain alert for symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, and shortness of breath, hallmark signs of Legionnaires' disease. The illness may take up to 10 days to develop after exposure. What is Legionnaires' disease? Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. It's not spread from person to person. Instead, the bacteria thrive in stagnant water systems, particularly cooling towers used in air conditioning, and spread when microscopic droplets become airborne. Live Events It is especially dangerous for older adults, smokers, and individuals with underlying lung or immune conditions. Diagnosis typically requires a chest X-ray, urine or sputum test, and hospital-based antibiotic treatment. While no source has yet been confirmed in the Potts Point outbreak, NSW Health is conducting a thorough inspection of cooling towers in the area and has reminded building owners to comply with the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022, which mandates regular maintenance and testing of cooling systems. Residents are scared Potts Point residents are understandably concerned. Jane Harris*, 66, who lives in a nearby apartment building, said she began experiencing a light cough two days ago. 'I thought it was just the weather turning. But now I'm watching every breath. It's scary, honestly,' she said. Café owner Mark Talbot*, who works a few blocks from where one case was confirmed, has ordered professional cleaners to inspect his building's ventilation. 'We can't take chances. Customers ask if it's safe to sit inside. I can't blame them,' he said. Health Advice Anyone who was in Potts Point between June 8–18 and experiences symptoms is urged to seek medical attention immediately. While treatable, delays in care can be dangerous, particularly for vulnerable populations. This is the second outbreak in Sydney this year. In a separate incident earlier in 2025, 12 people were infected and one died after exposure to the same bacteria in the city's CBD. That outbreak was eventually traced to a contaminated cooling tower, which has since been decontaminated. Sydney residents are being urged not to panic, but to remain cautious and informed. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
