Vic: Detective gets legionnaires' disease

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2008
Vic: Detective gets legionnaires' disease

MELBOURNE, April 16 AAP - A detective at Melbourne's police headquarters has contracted
legionnaires' disease from cooling towers at the inner city building.

Police command said the St Kilda Road complex was now safe after being cleaned by the
Department of Human Services (DHS).

The detective had been discharged from hospital and was recovering.

Police spokeswoman Sergeant Creina O'Grady said police command was working closely
with the DHS to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all members working at the site.

"The DHS has advised us that this appears to be an isolated case and have received
no other reports of legionnaires' disease in the area," she said in a statement.

A number of precautions had been taken in relation to the cooling towers in the building
and, in line with advice from DHS, staff and visitors were going about business as normal,
she said.

Police Association assistant secretary Bruce McKenzie told reporters the police union
accepted the area was safe but wanted it to be maintained and checked regularly.

AAP gr/pmu/srp/cdh

KEYWORD: LEGIONNAIRES

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