<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="" title="Victoria's"><span>Victoria's</span></a><span> Chief Health Officer (CHO) has issued an urgent </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/health" rel="" target="" title="health"><span>health</span></a><span> warning following an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Melbourne's northern suburbs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Six cases of the severe respiratory disease have been recorded in Craigieburn and surrounding northern suburbs since early March.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The patients have received treatment in hospital.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cheese-pulled-from-shelves-at-coles-iga-over-undeclared-allergen/e2b9331d-dda4-48b1-973c-a96713354c6b" target="_blank"><strong><span>Cheese pulled from shelves at Coles, IGA over undeclared allergen</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victorian CHO Dr Caroline McElnay is warning people who work, live in or have visited Craigieburn, Mickleham, Greenvale and Roxburgh Park from late February, and develop flu-like symptoms, to seek urgent medical care.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Symptoms of Legionnaire's disease include typical flu symptoms like headaches, chills, muscle aches and pains and cough, which can progress to atypical pneumonia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Other symptoms may include confusion, diarrhoea and kidney impairment.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/legionnaires-disease-victorians-warned-after-outbreak-of-severe-respiratory-disease/b035d501-3cc1-4d30-8297-db898c412a6b" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Health professionals are advised to be alert to the possibility of Legionnaires' disease in patients, including people who may have travelled along the Hume Highway and stopped for food or petrol in the area.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-australia-five-easy-ways-to-save-fuel-amid-crisis-explainer/99adb81c-b088-4cac-ad68-11ab7061714e" target="_blank"><strong><span>What are the best ways to save fuel? Five tips to help Aussies save money on petrol</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Authorities are investigating the source of the outbreak, testing local cooling towers and other potential sources.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection caused by </span><em><span>Legionella</span></em><span> bacteria, which are widespread in the environment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They are found in natural bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, creeks and hot springs, as well as spas, warm water systems and artificial systems that use water for cooling, heating or industrial processes, such as cooling towers, as well as potting mix.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The disease is spread by breathing in fine droplets of water that contain the bacteria, but cannot be spread from person-to-person or by drinking contaminated water.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Legionnaires' can be treated with antibiotics, but it can be deadly if symptoms aren't treated promptly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Over 65s, smokers, excess alcohol drinkers and people with underlying health conditions at greater risk of infection.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victoria's last major outbreak of Legionnaires' disease was linked to a cooling tower in Laverton North in late July of 2024.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The outbreak led to more than 100 confirmed cases and two deaths.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>