MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
One Fatality Linked to Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak
It is with regret the Auckland Regional Public Health Services (ARPHS) confirms that there has been a fatality linked to the recent Legionnaires disease outbreak, in the Auckland region. Unfortunately the patient had pre-diagnosed underlying health issues.
ARPHS is working closely with family of the deceased to try and determine the source of exposure over the past two weeks. Because Legionella bacteria are notoriously difficult to pinpoint, there is a region wide campaign for all building owners and/or managers to shock-dose their water-cooling systems in an attempt to eliminate the disease.
Auckland City Council and other agencies are working together to contact building owners that have cooling towers or use an industrial process that re-circulates water and generates aerosols, so that they are aware of the need to shock-dose their cooling systems.
Our condolences go out to the family at this difficult time.
ENDS
If you have a media enquiry, please phone ARPHS on (09) 623 4600 and ask to speak to a member of the Communications team. All requests for interviews, photographs or filming must be made through this team.
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