Urgent: Legionella Found at LHSC Victoria Cooling Towers

UPDATE: Legionella bacteria, the cause of legionnaires disease, has been detected in cooling towers at the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) Victoria campus. This alarming discovery comes as health officials report a growing outbreak in southeast London, with 69 confirmed cases and 2 deaths as of July 9, 2023.

Dr. Nadim Khalil, the Site Lead for Infection, Prevention and Control at LHSC Children’s Hospital, stated, “Water evaporates and becomes aerosolized, where the bacteria can be in the air, then inhaled by people, and people can get sick.” This underscores the urgency surrounding the situation.

Legionnaires disease is a serious type of pneumonia, presenting symptoms such as fever, chills, dry cough, and shortness of breath. Unlike many infectious diseases, it is not spread from person to person. The current outbreak has raised significant health concerns within a six-kilometre radius of the detected cases.

While LHSC Victoria is within the outbreak area, Dr. Khalil emphasized that the hospital is not the source of the bacteria. “There’s not an increased risk from catching legionella from being in the hospital than anywhere else in London,” he assured the public. However, the presence of bacteria in the cooling towers has prompted swift action from hospital officials.

In response to the findings, LHSC is intensifying its cleaning protocols for the cooling tanks. Dr. Khalil noted, “We have had treatment done to the water supply, and we are proceeding with an even more aggressive treatment and cleaning, just to make sure we’re not causing any potential harm to the community.” This proactive measure aims to ensure the safety of patients and staff while mitigating further risks to the surrounding population.

The hospital is currently awaiting results from the samples taken approximately a week ago to determine if it matches the strain found in the community. Results are expected within the next three weeks, adding to the urgency of the situation.

As this outbreak develops, health officials continue to monitor the situation closely. Residents are encouraged to be vigilant and report any symptoms to their healthcare providers. This outbreak serves as a critical reminder of the serious health threats posed by environmental bacteria.

Stay tuned for further updates as authorities work to control this urgent public health risk.