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Nova Scotia

N.S. Health suspects multiple deaths 'associated' with legionella outbreak

The health authority did not say how many suspected deaths there were and noted they "could have been caused by the infection directly, or contributed through worsening of other chronic health issues."

Public Health declared the New Glasgow outbreak over on Tuesday

CBC News ·
A graphic of the legionella bacteria.
As of Aug. 3, nine cases and another 20 suspected infections had been detected in the New Glasgow, N.S., area, but no cases have been reported since. (The Canadian Press)

Nova Scotia Health suspects there were multiple deaths "associated" with the legionella disease outbreak in New Glasgow this summer.

In an email this week, the health authority did not specify an exact number of deaths, and added they "could have been caused by the infection directly, or contributed through worsening of other chronic health issues."

The outbreak in New Glasgow was declared over on Tuesday after several weeks without any new cases.

Ten cases were previously confirmed by laboratory testing and 22 were considered probable.

Legionella bacteria rarely causes severe illness, but risks increase for people who are older, who smoke or have a chronic health condition. Illness caused by legionella, including legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever, can be treated with antibiotics if caught early.

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