TTC cooling tower is source of Toronto legionnaires’ outbreak: public health

Toronto public health officials have pinpointed a Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) cooling tower as the origin of a recent legionnaires' disease outbreak. The investigation focused on six confirmed cases clustered within a one-kilometer radius of the Bathurst and Dupont streets intersection.

Officials confirmed that samples collected from the cooling tower at the TTC’s Hillcrest Complex matched samples from a legionnaires' case, establishing it as the source. The TTC has been working closely with health officials, and the implicated cooling equipment has since been shut down.

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A cooling tower at the TTC’s Hillcrest Complex was determined to be the source of the outbreak after samples collected from the tower matched a sample from a legionnaires’ case.

Authorities also noted a potential epidemiological link between this outbreak and five cases of legionnaires' disease at Castleview Wychwood Towers, a nearby long-term care home. Legionnaires' disease is caused by legionella bacteria, which thrive in water sources and can be present in systems like hot tubs, sprinklers, humidifiers, and decorative fountains. Transmission occurs when individuals inhale water droplets containing the bacteria.

Public health officials have emphasized that legionnaires' disease does not spread from person to person and that the risk to the general public remains low. The bacteria can be found in various water systems, and the outbreak serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining these systems to prevent bacterial growth.

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The TTC has worked closely with them and the affected cooling equipment was shut down.