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A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said today (January 9) that the final laboratory results of the water samples taken before cleansing and disinfection from 18 locations of office buildings in connection with a confirmed Legionnaires' Disease (LD) case involving a 67-year-old male patient were available today, with levels of Legionella species (including Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1) ranging from 0.7 to 13 cfu/ml.
Apart from the preliminary positive results of water samples covering 13 locations announced last week, there were five more water samples taken before disinfection from other five locations that tested positive for Legionella pneumophila. The latest positive samples came from the private washrooms of the Chief Secretary for Administration's Private Office (25/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices (CGO)) and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (22/F, West Wing, CGO), and three public toilets for male, female and the disabled on the 10/F , East Wing, CGO.
Last week the CHP reported that samples taken before disinfection from 13 locations preliminarily tested positive for Legionella pneumophila. These positive samples were collected from the private washrooms of the Chief Executive's Office, the Financial Secretary's Private Office (25/F, West Wing, CGO), the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (24/F, West Wing, CGO), the Secretary for Labour and Welfare (10/F, West Wing, CGO), the Secretary for Civil Service (9/F, West Wing, CGO), the Secretary for Transport and Housing (22/F, East Wing, CGO), the Secretary for Security (10/F, East Wing, CGO) and the Secretary for Home Affairs (12/F, West Wing, CGO).
The remaining positive water samples announced last week came from other sites, namely the water taps of the kitchens of the CGO's Canteen on the 1/F and the Conference Hall on 2/F, West Wing; the water taps of the kitchen of the Dining Hall on the 1/F and the pantry on the 3/F of the Legislative Council Complex; and a tap at the food counter in the bakery on the 2/F podium outside East Wing.
Legionnaires' Disease (LD) is usually caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1.
According to international standards, immediate control measures including disinfection should be taken when the levels for Legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems exceed 0.1-1 cfu/ml.
Legionella bacteria are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (25 to 40 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, cooling towers, whirlpool and spas, water fountains and in apparatus that support breathing.
Before disinfection, seven and 31 water samples covering 36 locations were taken at various sites at CGO for analysis on December 28 and 29 respectively. Testing of all these water samples has been completed.
Ends/Monday, January 9, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:44
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