The following is an excerpr of a later edition of to-day's Perth newspaper.
Put plenty of disinfctant spray into your A/C Unit and be sure to have it cleaned out if ice builds up.
Legionnaires' disease sparks Bali travel warning
Katherine Fenech
September 3, 2010 - 11:38AM
Dangerous respiratory disease sparks Bali travel warning.
Dangerous respiratory disease sparks Bali travel warning.
Two West Australians are in hospital with legionnaires' disease after returning from a trip to Bali, sparking a warning for travellers to the country from the WA Health Department.
Three Australians, including one Victorian, have tested positive for severe pneumonia due to infection caused by the legionella pneumophilia bacteria.
Communicable Disease Control director Dr Paul Armstrong said the trio had most likely been infected with the potentially deadly illness in central Kuta.
The department urged anyone who has recently returned from Bali to be alert for any symptoms.
"The early symptoms of legionnaires' disease are typically similar to severe 'flu like' illness, and may include fever, chills, muscle soreness, headaches, tiredness, reduced appetite and diarrhoea, along with dry cough and breathlessness," Dr Armstrong said.
The disease can develop between two and 10 days after a person is exposed to it and most often affects middle-aged and elderly people, especially those who smoke or have lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease or a weak immune system.
"Legionnaires' disease is treated with specific antibiotics, and while most people recover, some people may develop severe pneumonia requiring hospitalisation," he said.
"We recommend that anyone who falls in one or more of these risk groups who develops flu-like illness after returning from Bali seeks medical advice, and notifies their doctor of their recent travel."
The bacteria is usually transmitted by inhaling contaminated warm water droplets through air conditioning cooling towers, in showers, spas and fountains.
Good luck
Peter