Montreal public health investigating after man dies from legionnaires’ disease

Montreal public health officials say they are investigating a deadly case of legionnaires’ disease in the city’s east end to see if it is linked to two other cases detected in the area.

The city’s public health department said today that the investigation will target water cooling towers in the area.

The victim was only identified as a man.

Last year, two people died after an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in an adjacent area.

The public health department says 27 cases of legionnaires’ disease, which is caused by bacteria, have been detected in the city so far this year, and that 52 cases were detected last year.

The disease can cause fever, cough, shortness of breath and aches and pains, and it can be fatal in roughly 10 to 15 per cent of cases.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 10, 2022.