Australian health authorities on alert after deadly disease cases in Sydney CBD
four unrelated individuals have tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease after spending time in the Sydney CBD.
Image: David Gray / AFP
Australian provincial health authorities have issued an urgent public health alert after multiple cases of Legionnaires’ disease were confirmed in Sydney.
According to New South Wales Health (NSW), four unrelated individuals have tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease after spending time near Clarence Street and the Wynyard area of the CBD between December 9 and 18, 2025. All four patients were hospitalised as a result of the infection, News.az reported.
NSW Health officials are investigating a range of potential environmental sources — including cooling towers in the CBD — and are urging building managers to ensure all systems are properly maintained and compliant with public health regulations.
While the exact source of the current cases has not yet been confirmed, the focus remains on thorough environmental testing and rapid public notification.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which are commonly found in freshwater environments. The bacteria are a well‑known risk when they contaminate man‑made water systems such as cooling towers on large buildings. People contract the disease by inhaling aerosolised droplets of contaminated water; the infection does not spread directly from person to person.
Those most at risk are older adults, people with existing lung or heart conditions, and smokers, according to public health advice.
This latest episode adds to Sydney’s sporadic history of Legionnaires’ cases, including city‑wide alerts earlier in 2025 when multiple cases were reported among people who had spent time in the CBD and Potts Point areas.
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