A female patient is admitted to the Wesley Hospital due to legionnaire's disease. This is the second case of legionnaire's disease in Brisbane following the death of a 60-year-old woman last Sunday. Although a cancer patient, the elderly woman tested positive for legionnaire's disease.

In a statement released today, Wesley Hospital said that the latest patient is confined in a different section of the hospital. The older woman stayed in a different hospital ward until her death.

New hospital admissions were temporarily cancelled last night according to Executive Director Richard Royle of Uniting Care Health. The emergency department of Wesley Hospital will be the holding place of all emergency cases related to the disease.

Royle said the decision was made for the safety of all patients. It is a necessary precaution until the source of contamination is clearly determined. The director also said the health department would not risk the lives of patients in the hospital without knowing more about the recent legionnaire's disease case.

Hospital personnel distributed wash kits to patients since showering was not allowed at this time. The water supply of the hospital is being disinfected by engineers. Royle says every precautionary step mys be taken until the hospital hears from Queensland Health experts. An investigation will conducted today by agency environmental health experts.

The situation calls for a different kind of treatment since it has never happened before. Uniting Health Care fully supports Wesley Hospital and is willing to provide the necessary resources. The hospital is the biggest not for profit hospital in Queensland.

The hospital currently has 480 patients. Hundreds of patients were waiting for more updates since they have been alerted by hospital staff after a patient died from legionnaire's disease.

According to health experts, the likelihood of developing the disease is rare and comparable to being struck by lightning. Nevertheless, they were worried about the risks of contamination and began contacting patients who may have had contact with the bacteria at the hospital.

Water samples positive of legionella bacteria

Water samples collected seven days before from the hospital's water supply tested positive for legionella bacteria. The samples were taken after the death of the elderly cancer patient. The contamination of the hospital's water system came as a surprise.

Legionnaire's disease has symptoms similar to flu which includes fever, headache, chills, fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea and shortness of breath. The disease is triggered by a few strains of legionella bacteria and may be spread via air conditioning units, showers and other hot water sources.

Patients are advised to inform the hospital if any of the symptoms are felt. The hospital awaits further announcements as more information is known about the disease.