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<\/p>\nA legionnaires\u2019 disease outbreak has been \u201cre-declared\u201d after a sudden rash of 25 new cases but officials now say they believe they\u2019ve pinpointed the source of the outbreak.<\/p>\n
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\u201cTo date, the outbreak in 2025 has been linked to serious pneumonia in at least 94 London residents, resulting in 86 hospitalizations and four deaths,\u201d the Middlesex-London Health Unit said Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe decision to reopen the outbreak reflects a rise in cases after several weeks without new cases, suggesting that the Legionella bacteria has re-emerged in the environment despite earlier remediation efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n
The outbreak, first confirmed in early July<\/a>, had previously been declared over on Aug. 6.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the health unit said nine cooling towers (air-conditioning units from large buildings) across the city tested positive for the bacteria that causes legionnaires\u2019 and \u201cfurther testing confirmed that the strain at Sofina Foods matched the one linked to this outbreak.\u201d<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n The health unit also noted that \u201cdespite routine cleaning and disinfection trace bacteria can sometimes persist in cooling towers and regrow under hot, humid conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEarlier testing at the facility in 2024 and early 2025 did not produce a match. In the last month, two rounds of testing were conducted; the first showed no match, while the second did, most likely because of bacterial regrowth between the tests.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tGet weekly health news<\/p>\n Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.<\/p>\n However, the spokesperson stressed that the disease is not spread through eating or drinking or through person-to-person contact, but rather through people breathing in small droplets of water containing the bacteria.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore on Health \u201cIt is found naturally in the environment in the soil or water. The bacteria is also common in cooling towers located on top of buildings. It is then aerosolized and can travel quite a distance in the wind,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cFood products from Sofina Foods Inc. remain safe to consume.\u201d<\/p>\n Sharon Begley, Sofina Foods chief safety officer, said the results were \u201cunexpected\u201d given the \u201crobust daily safety and sanitation program and testing we have in place\u201d and the \u201cnegative results from previous testing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout the outbreak, we have been following MLHU guidance and working with our outside specialists who have expertise in this area and who administer our regular cooling tower cleaning and maintenance. We took immediate action as soon as MLHU shared its findings with us. Over and above our regular processes, we conducted further deep cleaning and disinfecting processes recommended by MLHU. The cooling tower is offline and will remain offline until these additional steps are completed. We will continue testing to ensure any risk has been eliminated,\u201d Begley said.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cSofina takes health and safety matters seriously and will continue to work closely with MLHU to fully address its findings.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tA heat map showing where the legionnaires\u2019 disease outbreak has been concentrated.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tMiddlesex-London Health Unit\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\tTrending Now\n\t<\/p>\n![\"Receive](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/healthiq.jpg\")
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