A woman is in intensive care after becoming the second patient at a Brisbane hospital to contract the potentially deadly Legionnaire's Disease.
A 60-year-old man died on Sunday after contracting the disease at the Wesley Hospital,which has since cancelled all admissions and closed its emergency department.
The man, who was being treated for cancer and a variety of other health problems, is believed to have contracted the disease from the warm bath water.
The Legionella bacteria has since been found in the hot water system and bathrooms in the hospital's East Wing, where the man was being treated.
The hospital said the second patient was in a different ward to the first case.
All admissions and surgical procedures at the Wesley Hospital have been cancelled until further notice, and staff have been contacting all 240 patients who have been discharged from the East Wing since May 25.
The Wesley's emergency centre has been placed on bypass for all ambulance cases.
Engineers are continuing to disinfect the water supply across the hospital. Patients have been told not to take showers and wash kits have been handed out.
Queensland Health deals with an average of 20 cases of the rare Legionella bacteria, but Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young said this was the first time the bacteria had been found in a water system.
The 60-year-old man returned a positive test for Legionnaires’ Disease on May 28. Water samples were collected from the hospital on May 29. Those cultures tested positive for the bacteria on June 5. The man died on June 2.
"This is a lightening strike event," Uniting Care Health executive director Richard Royle said.
"We are ensuring that we are doing everything we can humanly possibly do to minimise any further risk and we believe that leads to a significantly reduced risk to anybody."
Legionnaires’ Disease is often contracted through breathing in the Legionella bacteria, usually through very fine water droplets vented through cooling pipes and towers, such as air-conditioners. It can also be found in hot water systems, shower heads, spas and soil and potting mix. But the disease can not be spread from person to person.
It causes flu-like symptoms, including muscle aches and pains, fever, chills and headaches, followed by serious respiratory conditions such as pneumonia. Symptoms usually become evident within five to six days of breathing in the bacteria.
Those with chronic lung diseases and compromised immune systems have an increased risk of contracting the disease.
People over 50, diabetics and heavy drinkers and smokers are also considered to have a higher risk.
Any patient discharged from the Wesley who has concerns has been asked to contact their hospital health specialist or call 32 32 73 16.
Information has been made available on the Wesley Hospital website.
