Dr. Yves Leger, the regional officer of health in the Moncton area. (Staff photo)
Four new cases have been confirmed in the legionnaires disease outbreak in the Moncton area, bringing the total to 16.
There have been no fatalities and health officials say most victims were hospitalized but are now all recovered or recovering well
Regional officer of health, Dr. Yves Leger says those affected range in age from mid-30s to 70s and 80s, with the majority of them being over 50 with pre-existing conditions that make them more susceptible.
Leger says they identified a cooling tower in the city’s west end as the source but aren’t naming the building.
“The site has been addressed since mid-August. There is no risk related to the site and we continue the follow up weekly with them. We believe there is no benefit to the public at this point to provide that information,” says Leger.
“My concern, in part, is that people will continue to be anxious or concerned about that site, modify their activities, change their plans to try and somehow avoid that site and I think that provides no benefit, as I said before we are very confident that the problem has been addresses,” he adds.
Dr. Leger says after identifying the source, the cooling tower was shut down and disinfected.
A 28-day total incubation and safety margin period ending in mid September, without additional cases, will signal the end of the outbreak.
Health officials will provide another update at that time.
