By Canadian Press

10 cases of legionnaires’ disease in Montreal, two people have died: public health

Aug 4, 2021 | 9:25 AM

Montreal public health officials say they are investigating after two people died of legionnaires’ disease in the eastern part of the city.

The public health department says 10 cases of the disease, which often causes pneumonia, have been identified since mid-June, all within a large area east of downtown Montreal.

Dr. David Kaiser, the department’s head of environmental and population health, says legionnaires’ disease is a respiratory infection that can be caught by breathing in small droplets of water suspended in the air that are contaminated with the legionella bacteria.

He says public health is still working to identify the source of the infections and has examined water cooling towers in the area. 

Public health is asking residents to ensure that home hot water heaters maintain a temperature above 60 C to prevent growth of the bacteria.

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Each year, around 50 Montreal residents contract legionnaires’ disease.  

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2021.

The Canadian Press