Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak in Melbourne's North Sparks Urgent Health Alert
Health authorities have issued a major warning following an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Melbourne's outer northern suburbs. As of March 18, 2026, six individuals who spent time in Craigieburn and surrounding areas have contracted the lung infection and required hospitalization.
Investigation and Source Tracing Underway
Health officials are actively investigating the source of the outbreak, with a focus on testing cooling towers in the region. The disease is caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria, which can contaminate environmental sources like cooling towers on large buildings.
Authorities emphasize that Legionnaires' disease spreads through inhaling water droplets containing the bacteria, not through person-to-person contact. Symptoms include fever, chills, shortness of breath, and a cough, potentially leading to severe pneumonia.
Urgent Medical Advice for Residents
The Victorian health department has urged anyone who has been in Craigieburn, Mickleham, Greenvale, or Roxburgh Park since late February and is experiencing flu-like symptoms to seek immediate medical care. Additional symptoms may include confusion, diarrhoea, and in some cases, kidney impairment.
More detailed information is available on the health department's website. This incident follows a similar outbreak last July in Sydney, where an 80-year-old man from Potts Point died and six others were hospitalized after contracting the disease.
