The Montérégie public health department is currently investigating three cases of legionellosis in residents of Sainte-Julie. They are two men and a woman, all over the age of 60.
The public health department is currently working with the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) and the City of Sainte-Julie to identify the source of exposure to the disease in order to resolve the problem.
Legionellosis is a disease that can be caught by breathing in airborne microdroplets of water that are contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Symptoms of the illness may resemble those of the flu (cough, fever). Pneumonia is the more severe form of the disease. Although the bacteria are present in soil, lakes and rivers, the main causes of infection are artificial water sources such as water cooling towers, spas, or water heaters.
The public health department called for vigilance this morning in the health network to encourage emergency room staff and medical clinics to pay increased attention to signs of legionellosis and to report cases quickly.
The public health department invites people who have concerns about their health to contact Info-Santé (8-1-1).
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