No new Legionnaires’ cases
linked to cooling towers pleasing
With no new
notifications for a month, health officials are confident
that the source of the Legionella bacteria, which
hospitalised six Cantabrians, is no longer a public health
risk.
Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink
says the last case of Legionnaires’ disease (Legionella
pneumophila serogroup 1) was notified on 25 May
2015.
“It has now been a month since the last case
linked to the Hillsborough industrial area was notified to
us,” Dr Pink says.
He says maintenance and treatment of
cooling systems is critical in minimising the risk of
legionnaires’ disease to local communities.
“The
fact there’s been no new cases is a tribute to local
businesses who have heeded our call to treat their cooling
towers,” Dr Pink says.
Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is a Christchurch, New Zealand based hospital and healthcare provider for the
Canterbury region of New Zealand. Our region extends from Kekerengu in the North, to Rangitata in the South and Arthurs Pass in the West and comprises the six Territorial Local Authorities of Kaikoura, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Christchurch City, Selwyn and Ashburton.
We collaborate with other health and disability organisations, stakeholders and our community to decide what health and disability services are needed and how to best use the funding we receive from Government to improve, promote and protect the health, wellbeing and independence of our population.
At the Canterbury DHB, our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Canterbury.