Toronto's mystery illness is legionnaires' disease

[nomo]

<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051006/wl_nm/canada_legionnaires_dc">news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051...nnaires_dc</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br>Toronto's mystery illness is legionnaires' disease<br><br>By Matthew Chung<br><br>TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian health officials on Thursday identified<br>the "mystery illness" that killed 16 people in a Toronto nursing home<br>as legionnaires' disease.<br><br>The disease, a type of pneumonia, is contracted by people breathing in<br>small droplets of water contaminated with the bacteria -- often from<br>ventilation systems. It is rare in Ontario, though the bacteria is<br>common in the environment throughout North America.<br><br>David McKeown, Toronto's medical officer of health, said most cases can<br>be treated with antibiotics but older people with underlying health<br>problems are more at risk of becoming seriously ill and dying.<br><br>The 16 residents of Seven Oaks Home for the Aged who died were between<br>the ages of 50 and 95 and had existing medical conditions.<br><br>Tissue samples from autopsies done on three residents of the home came<br>back positive for legionnaires' disease, officials said. Further tests<br>are being done for confirmation.<br><br>"There is not and never was a threat to the general public," Toronto<br>Mayor David Miller, said at a press conference held to announce the<br>findings.<br><br>Tests had previously ruled out SARS, or severe acute respiratory<br>syndrome, which killed 44 people in the Toronto area in 2003.<br><br>Officials believe the legionnaires' disease outbreak, which was first<br>detected on September 25, is now under control as there have been no<br>new cases since Monday. They are treating about 80 people with<br>antibiotics and an environmental investigation is under way at the<br>nursing home.<br><br>The building's ventilation system has been shut down while tests are<br>carried out and staff and residents are being asked not to drink the<br>tap water.<br><br>Legionnaires' disease got its name in 1976 when a group of American<br>Legionnaires at a Philadelphia convention suffered an outbreak of the<br>lung infection.<br><br>The bacteria forms naturally in the environment, usually in water, and<br>grows best in warm water such as hot water tanks, large plumbing<br>systems or air conditioning systems. <p>--<br>When all else fails... panic.</p><i></i>