Legionella Recent Outbreaks & Fatalities

Legionella bacteria pose serious, sometimes deadly, threats when they infiltrate man-made water systems. Here are real-world cases from around the globe. Highlighting how devastating, but preventable these outbreaks can be.

Melbourne, Australia (July–August 2024)

78 confirmed cases, 10 suspected, and two deaths in Melbourne’s west. The worst outbreak of its kind in over two decades.

The outbreak was linked to a contaminated cooling tower (now disinfected). Health teams inspected more than 50 cooling towers. Victims were mostly aged over 40, with many hospitalised and several in intensive care units. Public health warnings urged those with flu-like symptoms to seek immediate medical attention. With early antibiotic treatment proving to be lifesaving.

St. Petersburg, Florida, USA (November 2024)

61-year-old kindergarten teacher Kathy Pennington died after contracting Legionnaires’ disease. She spent four days in intensive care, but eventually succumbed to the disease.
Authorities temporarily evacuated seven classrooms and shut down the building’s HVAC system. All done so whilst investigating the air-conditioning as a potential source.
Air quality tests were conducted before students returned. This highlighted protocols for emergency responses in public spaces.

HMP Lincoln, UK (Fatal Case & £600k Fine)

In December 2017, Graham Butterworth, a 71-year-old inmate, died from Legionnaires’ disease. This was after water systems in his cell block tested positive for Legionella.
His death led to a £600,000 fine imposed on Amey Community Limited in December 2024. This was after it failed to act on previous risk assessments and didn’t maintain adequate water temperatures or monitoring systems.
This tragedy underscores the legal and moral obligations of facility managers to maintain safe water systems.

Why This Matters for Your Business

Human impact:

Legionnaires’ isn’t just a statistic, it's fatal and preventable.

Regulatory imperative:

Failure in water management has real legal costs and reputational damage.

Risk across sectors:

Whether you're a school, nursery, dental practice, or prison. Legionella can strike.

HSRA expertise:

Your compliance partner from routine monitoring to crisis management.

HSRA’s Proactive Water Safety Strategy

• Comprehensive risk assessments — Covering cooling towers, DUWLs, HVAC, and communal plumbing
• Scheduled surveillance — Temperature checks, microbiological sampling, risk logs
• Emergency preparedness — Incident response planning, alerting protocols
• Training & awareness — Empowering staff to spot symptoms and system changes
• Legal compliance — Aligned with HSE ACoP L8, HTM 01‑05, CQC, and local duty frameworks

Contact HSRA today to protect your people, your reputation, and your bottom line — before the next outbreak makes headlines.