Eight people contract Legionnaire's disease in Sydney CBD outbreak

Three more people have contracted Legionnaire's disease in Sydney's CBD, just one day after four men were admitted to hospital with the infection.

The number of affected patients has now reached eight, with health authorities linking the outbreak to the Town Hall area.

The number of people diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease has jumped to eight. Photo: Yahoo!7
The number of people diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease has jumped to eight. Photo: Yahoo!7

Two of the patients were within the CBD region between late February and early March, NSW Health said in a statement

Legionnaire's disease is a type of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection of the lungs and is commonly found in air conditioning cooling towers.

NSW Health has started inspections into cooling towers in the CBD.

The outbreak has been linked to Sydney's CBD, and in particular, the Town Hall area. Photo: 7News
The outbreak has been linked to Sydney's CBD, and in particular, the Town Hall area. Photo: 7News

Legionnaire's disease symptoms include fever, chills, a dry cough and shortness of breath. Some people also have muscle aches, headaches, tiredness, loss of appetite and diarrhoea.

Anyone experiencing symptoms has been advised to seek the advice of their doctor.

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