Bali tourists warned of Legionnaires' Disease

Tourists visiting Bali have been warned to beware of Legionnaires' disease / File Source: AAP

RECENT visitors to Bali have been urged to see a doctor if they suffer flu-like symptoms, after at least 10 Australians contracted Legionnaires' Disease while holidaying on the island.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer John Carnie said on Friday four Victorians, aged from 45 to 82, recovered after being treated for the illness on their return from holidays in Bali.
Six cases were detected among West Australians who had been to the Indonesian resort island, Dr Carnie said.
He said the first two Victorian cases were in August and October, and the latter two had visited Bali in late December.
"The Indonesian government has been advised of the Australian cases and is investigating to determine the source of the infections," Dr Carnie said in a statement.
Dr Carnie said Legionnaires' causes flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, and may lead to respiratory problems and pneumonia.

It is acquired through breathing in very fine droplets of water that contain the bacteria, such as spray drifts vented from cooling towers. Whirlpool spas and warm water systems can also lead to the illness.

source:news.com.au