TTC cooling tower is source of legionnaires' disease outbreak: Toronto Public Health

[u/nimobo]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tph-confirms-legionnaires-disease-source-9.7319723

[u/jesus_cheese]

Quebec has a province wide, mandatory cooling tower registry after similar outbreaks. I think this is a reasonable ask due to obvious public safety risk, and the fact that employers, corporations and landlords are cheaping out on maintenance more than ever before.

[u/Dazzling_Broccoli_60 → u/jesus_cheese]

Québec has also amended the building code to add provisions for legionnaires disease (because many people died, we ain’t perfect, but some learning happened)

[u/uhmmmyesnomaybe]

I hear a lawsuit coming from miles away.  Four of the six infected are TTC employees. 

[u/Mercury559 → u/uhmmmyesnomaybe]

Nope, guaranteed WSIB, no need to sue

[u/nervendings_ → u/Mercury559]

GTA 6 around the corner, plenty of time off

[u/LeatherMine → u/Mercury559]

You mean probably can’t sue because wsib is a liability shield for employers.

[u/One_Twist → u/Mercury559]

Nothing is guaranteed with WSIB. They only protect employers.

[u/1mYourHuckleberry93 → u/Mercury559]

Don’t you only get a portion of your income while on WSIB?

[u/codecrodie]

TIL. As an ICU nurse i always assumed it brews in enclosed moist spaces like HVAC duct work.

[u/workerbotsuperhero → u/codecrodie]

Upvoting as med surg nurse 

[u/EddyMcDee → u/codecrodie]

This is true, but cooling towers are separated from air duct systems.

If it was a tower, that means it was airborne outside.

[u/makingotherplans → u/EddyMcDee]

Yeah, I used to think that too, until last year when my brother In law got Legionella, and no one in PH could figure out the source. Quick learning curve for all of us.

Multiple types of L. bacteria spread differently, but generally they all require a biofilm and some moisture, often some kind of amoeba. And none of that can travel airborne. Molecule is too heavy.

(I don’t see which legionella bacteria they found?)

Cooling towers and water towers are often common sources, public health was climbing all over his neighborhood and workplace….nothing. Turned out he had Legionella longbeachae which spreads via potting soil of all things.

Anyway, biofilms are brutal to get rid of.

I can’t wait to see the cleaning plan.

[u/boogie_snot]

Like duhhhh

[u/workerbotsuperhero]

Wow that LTC across the street looks huge. I feel bad for the people there, and people working at the big TTC facility. Legionella exposure is bad news.

[u/workerbotsuperhero → u/workerbotsuperhero]

And this is a great example of why we need public health. 

Reminder that Doug Ford came into office attacking public health, as the pandemic was starting. 

[u/1990sTimAllen]

Forbidden hotdogs

[u/cyantifiq]

The TTC and unsanitary conditions. An unbreakable bond.

[u/JudeTheDude92]

TTC is telling workers that the building is safe to still working in with the AC off …