Health Alert for Sydney Olympic Park Visitors

Rugby league fans who visited Sydney Olympic Park last month have been alerted by NSW Health to be aware of symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease after two men who had visited the area tested positive to Legionnaires’ disease. <br><br> Both men, in their 40s and 50s had visited the Sydney Olympic Park area in early August. <br><br> Acting Director of Health Protection, Dr Jeremy McAnulty said the two men were treated for Legionnaires' disease in hospital and were recently discharged. <br><br> ”While the risk of infection is low, people who have visited Sydney Olympic Park during August who develop symptoms of fever, chills, cough and breathlessness, up to 10 days after their visit to the area, should see their doctor. <br><br> “The incubation period for people who may have been exposed to Legionella is between 2 – 10 days after exposure,” Dr McAnulty said. <br><br> Testing has since been carried out on the cooling towers at Sydney Olympic Park. One tower at ANZ stadium has returned preliminary results positive for Legionella. The cooling towers at ANZ Stadium have since been shut down and cleaned, and should not pose any further risk. <br><br> While preliminary test results have identified one contaminated tower, results from more detailed testing are not yet available. <br><br> “We are not able to definitely say that this tower is involved in these two cases of Legionnaires’ disease.” <br><br> “Legionnaires’ disease causes fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath. Some people also develop muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite and diarrhoea. <br><br> “Legionnaires’ disease is treated with antibiotics, and while most people recover, some people become very sick with pneumonia and require treatment in hospital. <br><br> Legionnaires’ disease is acquired through breathing in very fine droplets of water which contain bacteria, such as spray drifts which are vented off from contaminated cooling towers (that are part of air conditioning systems in large buildings). Legionnaires’ disease is not transmitted through person to person contact. <br><br> For more information on Legionnaires’ disease please visit <a ref="http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/legionnaires.html"> http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/legionnaires.html</a> For a range of health information, go online to <a ref="http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/"> www.health.nsw.gov.au</a>