No new legionnaires’ disease cases in New Glasgow, N.S.

There have been no more positive cases reported regarding an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in New Glasgow.

Nova Scotia Health (NSH) reported nine positive cases on Aug. 3. The first of the cases were found at Glen Haven Manor in New Glasgow and confirmed by NSH July 27.

Nova Scotia Health is still investigating the source of the outbreak however it has determined it did not originate from Glen Haven Manor.

In an Aug. 3 news release, NSH said preliminary results from one of the cooling towers in the Aberdeen Hospital was a “possible” site where the legionella bacteria was growing. NSH implemented additional cleaning on the cooling towers. NSH spokesperson Jennifer Lewandowski said the source may not be definitive as legionella bacteria is common in Nova Scotia’s environment.

There have been no more reported positive cases of legionnaires’ disease since Aug. 3, Lewandowski said, and any risk to the public remains very low.

Legionnaires’ disease is not spread person to person. The source of most infections is breathing the mist from a contaminated water source, such as hot water systems or air conditioning cooling towers.

Symptoms, which may appear two to 14 days after exposure, include fever, chills, dry cough, muscle aches, headaches, loss of appetite and diarrhea.