MELBOURNE, Australia -- Nearly 60 people are suffering from deadly Legionnaire's disease in Australia in an outbreak that has already killed two people, and officials fear related cases in Britain and New Zealand.
All the confirmed cases have been linked to an air-conditioning system in Melbourne's new aquarium. Officials say thousands, including foreign tourists, visited the center in mid-April and could be at risk from the flu-like disease. The illness can take 10 days to incubate.The aquarium is in southern Victoria state and the center's air conditioning unit has since been disinfected. The aquarium remains open.
Victoria health officials confirmed 11 more cases on Wednesday, bringing the total to 58 -- including two elderly women who died last week.
Another 35 people are thought to have the disease after developing respiratory illnesses and are waiting on the results of tests.
The state government fears the number of cases will rise with hundreds of people still waiting the results of tests in Victoria and other states.
Most of the victims are elderly, and nine sufferers are in critical condition in hospital, officials said.
Of the 58 sufferers, 57 had visited the aquarium between April 11 and 25. The other case, a 26-year-old man, walked near the building.
More than 1,800 urine tests for the disease have been conducted since last Thursday.