The Middlesex-London Health Unit has officially declared the end of the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak that began in July. From May 1 to September 26, 2024, 30 confirmed cases of legionella were reported. Those affected were between the ages of 37 and 87, with more than half being men. All 30 people were hospitalized, nine of them in the Intensive Care Unit. Sadly, two individuals passed away, and one person remains in the hospital.
The last reported case showed symptoms on September 14, and since no new cases have appeared in the past 24 days, the outbreak is now considered over.
Even though environmental samples were taken from 18 cooling tower sites near where the cases occurred, none of the samples have matched the legionella bacteria found in the patients. However, more test results are still being processed, and if a source is identified, the community will be informed and told that it has been cleaned.
Written by: K. Milhomens