MONTREAL — The regional director of the public health department was categoric in her condemnation in the wake of last summer’s explosion of Legionnaires’ disease in Quebec City.
“There were insufficient practices in place,” said François Desbiens, of the epidemic that saw 181 people fall sick and 13 die of the bacteria found in the cooling towers of buildings in the provincial capital.
The provincial health department got involved in examining the cause of the deadly respiratory disease that comes from bacteria that thrive in aquatic environments.
A report of their findings was made public on Thursday.
Cooling towers, containing water used in building air-conditioning systems, were found to be the source of the bacteria in Quebec City.
The bacteria was found in 24 per cent of the buildings visited by health inspectors after the outbreak was first declared.
In the report, Desbiens calls for more stringent maintenance protocols and cleaning and disinfecting procedures, as well as better official surveillance of these practices.
Original article at: montrealgazette.com