On July 31, 2025, a serious outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Potts Point, Sydney, left one man in his 80s dead and six others in the hospital. The South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) said seven people, aged 45 to 95, got sick since late May. Five have gone home, and one is still recovering. None of the patients knew each other, but they might have caught the disease from the same place in Potts Point, a fancy area near Sydney Harbor. An X post from @9NewsSyd said, “One dead, six hospitalized in Potts Point Legionnaires’ outbreak!”
A man died from this disease? That’s really scary!
What’s Legionnaires’ Disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a bad lung infection, like pneumonia, caused by Legionella bacteria. It spreads when people breathe in tiny water drops or dust with the bacteria, often from dirty cooling towers on big buildings. It doesn’t spread from person to person. Symptoms show up 2 to 10 days after breathing the bacteria and include fever, chills, cough, and trouble breathing. If not treated, it can cause lung failure or kidney problems. Older people, smokers, or those with weak lungs or immune systems are at higher risk. Doctors use urine or spit tests and chest X-rays to diagnose it, and it’s treated with antibiotics in the hospital.
A lung disease from water? That’s so sneaky!
Searching for the Source
Dr. Vicky Sheppeard, head of SESLHD’s public health unit, said no Legionella bacteria have been found yet, but they’re still looking. Since June, they’ve asked building owners in Potts Point to clean their cooling towers twice. Health workers and the City of Sydney are checking all water sources, like air conditioning systems, within 500 meters of where the sick people live. The NSW Public Health Regulation 2022 says cooling towers must be kept clean to stop bacteria. A café owner near the area told The Economic Times he’s getting his building’s air system checked to keep customers safe.
Checking water towers like detectives? Hope they find the cause!
What’s Being Done
SESLHD is warning anyone who’s been in Potts Point since May to watch for symptoms like fever or cough and go to a doctor or hospital fast. Call healthdirect at 1800 022 222 for help. This is the second Legionnaires’ outbreak in Sydney this year—earlier, 12 people got sick in the CBD, and one died. That time, a dirty cooling tower was the cause. Dr. Sheppeard said, “If you’ve been in Potts Point and feel sick, don’t wait—get checked.” Testing takes 5 to 7 days to find the bacteria, so they’re still searching.
Two outbreaks in one year? Sydney’s got a big problem!