Legionella E-news -- 21 June 2000

LEGIONELLA E-NEWS, 21 June 2000
HC Information Resources Inc.
Matthew R. Freije, Editor

**IN THIS ISSUE**
1. Update on the Melbourne Aquarium outbreak
2. Investigation of the 1999 Netherlands outbreak: the first 48 hours
3. New publications
4. New onsite test for Legionella

1. UPDATE ON MELBOURNE AQUARIUM OUTBREAK return to contents list
Health authorities have confirmed 101 cases of Legionnaires' disease among individuals who were at or near the new Melbourne Aquarium between 11 and 25 April, making this Australia's largest Legionnaires' outbreak. One of the patients was only 23 years of age. A man of only 26 years of age was in critical condition, but has recovered. The disease claimed the lives of two women, ages 79 and 83. Two men, ages 77 and 83, also died of the disease, but health authorities could not confirm that their illnesses were associated with a visit to the aquarium. The outbreak has been blamed on the aquarium's cooling towers because high levels of legionellae were found in water samples collected shortly after illnesses were identified. The cooling towers were disinfected. The Melbourne Aquarium is now replacing the water-cooled air-conditioning system with an air-cooled system. Source: news media.

2. INVESTIGATION OF THE 1999 NETHERLANDS OUTBREAK: FIRST 48 HOURS return to contents list
Eurosurveillance Weekly has published an article on the first 48 hours of the investigation of the 1999 outbreak in the Netherlands. The outbreak was blamed on a whirlpool spa on display at a trade show. 242 people who visited the large flower show became ill and 28 died. Legionnaires' disease was confirmed or considered probable in 192 of the cases and 21 of the deaths. Legionnaires' could not be identified in the other 50 cases and 7 deaths. The article is posted at Denis Green's web site: http://www.q-net.net.au/~legion/Legionnaires_Disease_Me.htm

3. NEW PUBLICATIONS return to contents list
HC Information Resources has released three new publications:

* How to reduce your risk of Legionnaires' disease in public places *
(US$14, electronic format, ISBN 1-930488-10-6, Item 310e, approximately 24 pages) -- Facts about Legionnaires' Disease and Legionella bacteria; Avoiding exposure to Legionella bacteria: Understanding your risk; In hospitals and nursing homes; In office buildings; In hotels; From equipment; In your job; In dental offices; References

* Home plumbing systems: How to reduce your risk of Legionnaires' disease and other bacterial infections *
(US$14, electronic format, ISBN 1-930488-12-2, Item 312e, approximately 25 pages) -- Facts about Legionnaires' disease and Legionella bacteria; Surveys of homes; Risk reduction options for home plumbing systems: Understanding your risk; Hot water temperatures; Mixing valves; Hot water flushes; Selecting a water heater; Plumbing repairs; Water softeners; Water filters; Ultraviolet treatment; New construction; Water sampling; Additional preventive measures; References; Appendix

* Home humidifiers: reducing your exposure to harmful bacteria *
(US$5, electronic format, ISBN 1-930488-14-9, Item 314e, approximately 5 pages) -- Risk of disease associated with humidifiers; Types of humidifiers; Recommendations for portable humidifiers; Recommendations for humidifiers installed in ventilation ductwork; References

For more information, go to http://www.hcinfo.com and click on the titles.

4. NEW ONSITE TEST FOR LEGIONELLA return to contents list
Binax has introduced a kit ("Binax Equate") that allows water samples to be tested onsite for Legionella in less than 45 minutes. The kit will detect Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, but no other Legionella species or serogroups. In the USA, more than 70% of all cases have been attributed to Lp sg 1. The kit may be less useful in Australia, however, where Legionella pneumophila was responsible for only 6% of

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