had visited the adjacent 2nd arrondissment. Specimens from 4 patients were sent to the National Centre for Legionellosis and found to be of identical type. Investigations to identify the source of the outbreak are being carried out but no results have been obtained to date. As a precautionary measure, owners of cooling towers in the 2nd and 9th arrondissments have been ordered to clean and disinfect their installations. No new cases have been detected since 3 July 1998. Heightened surveillance and investigations to identify the source continue (Source: WHO web site)
Bali
The National Centre for Disease Control has been advised  of two cases (one in June and one in August) of legionellosis in persons who had recently returned from Bali. The public Health authorities in Bali have been notified and investigations are continuing. (Source: Communicable Disease Intelligence Volume 22 Number 9 - 3 September 1998)
Somerset UK 3 October 1998  
One woman has died and five other people have been taken ill following an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. It is understood tests have been conducted on airconditioning equipment at premises in the town and results are expected next week. No details have been released on the woman who died, but all the patients were aged between 32 and 76. ( Source: http://www.q-net.net.au/~legion/Legionnaires_Disease_Outbreaks_1998.htm )
Legionellosis in Australia 1998
For the year to 21 July there have been 138 reports of legionellosis with an onset date during 1998. This is higher than reported for the corresponding periods in each year since 1992. The reported organism was Legionella longbeachae in 53, Legionella pneumophila in 55, 'other' in 1 and unknown in 29.
The geographic distribution of legionellosis was different for the two main organisms. The majority of reports of Legionella longbeachae were from South Australia (22) and Queensland (20) with smaller numbers from New South Wales (10)  and Victoria (1).
Legionella pneumophila was predominantly reported from Victoria (32) with smaller numbers from New South Wales (10), South Australia (7) and Queensland (6).
Patients were predominantly male. The male:female ratio was 3.4:1 for Legionella longbeachae and 4:1 for Legionella pneumophila. The age range for Legionella longbeachae was 22 years to 85 years and 71% of males and 58% of females were aged 50 years or older. For Legionella longbeachae, the age range was 28 years to 76 years and 80% of cases for both males and females were aged 50 years or older.  (Source: Communicable Disease Intelligence Volume 21 Number 8 - 6 August 1998)

How long should you boil water to make it safe to drink
Centers for Disease Control (Atlanta, Georgia) recommends making water microbiologically safe to drink by bringing it to a rolling boil for one (1) minute. This will inactivate all major waterborne bacterial pathogens (for example, Vibrio cholerae, enterotoxigenic Esherischia coli, Salmonella, Shigella sonnei, Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica and Legionella pneumophila) and waterborne protozoa (for example, Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, and Entamoeba histolytica). It will also be effective for waterborne viral pathogens such as hepatitis A virus, which is considered one of the more heat-resistant viruses.  An increase in boiling time to three (3) minutes is recommended if viral pathogens are suspected in drinking water in communities at 2 km above sea level.

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Biotech Laboratories Web Site

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Our internet web site has been updated by Chris Desborough of E-Mall Internet Marketing with the photography by Peter Merry - Greenslopes Private Hospital. All Newsletters can now be found at the site so that you can read and download previous editions if required. A comprehensive list of our Services is provided including a page devoted to water sample collection procedures and the location of Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology collection rooms. A number of interesting papers are listed under Research. There is a direct link from the Accreditations page to the NATA web site listing our accreditations. Those interested can even read the History of Biotech. Please visit the site at http://www.biotechlab.com.au/ and let us know what you think on the Feedback form.

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Biotech Laboratories Pty Ltd
Level 2, Administration Building, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes Qld  4120
PO  Box 505  Indooroopilly  Qld  4068    Ph: (07) 3847 9488     Facsimile: (07) 3847 9890
E-mail:  biotech@peg.apc.org     Web site: http://www.biotechlab.com.au/

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