Car wash closes in link to Legionnaires

A car wash has closed after it was revealed it could be linked to an outbreak of legionnaires' disease in Melbourne's south-west.

Four of five people who have been diagnosed with the potentially fatal disease used the Grand Car Wash on Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing before contracting the illness.

Victoria's Department of Human Services said the car wash owners have voluntarily closed the business while tests are carried out.

"The owners are cooperating with us and putting in measures to ensure the water is disinfected and remains safe when it is reopened," DHS spokesman Bram Alexander said.

Tests will take up to 10 days to determine whether bacteria could have been generated by the way the water was heated or stored at the car wash.

Two water cooling towers in the main shopping precinct in nearby Werribee have tested negative, while others in the area have been disinfected.

Two victims - a 51 year-old man from Hoppers Crossing and a 55-year-old man from Seabrook - remain in Werribee Mercy Hospital but are recovering, Mr Alexander said.

The three other people have recovered and have been released from hospital.

The legionella bacteria occurs naturally in the environment but can increase with warm recirculating water, such as cooling towers.

Symptoms include headache, fever, chills, coughs and muscle aches and pains.