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Assumption College student diagnosed with Influenza A, following legionnaires’ disease scare
Amid a surge in legionnaires’ disease cases in Melbourne, Assumption College faced a health scare on Tuesday, 6 August, when a Year 10 boarding student was diagnosed with Influenza A.
Assumption College principal Paul Finneran confirmed that several other boarding students were currently at home, also experiencing illness.
“We are organizing for every boarding student to be swabbed, which will test for Influenza A, Influenza B, and COVID,” he said.
“Should any other student test positive we will proceed to isolate those students from the rest of the community.”
Although the symptoms of Influenza A have similarities with legionnaires’ disease, such as fever, cough, muscle aches and pains, and sometimes gastro-like symptoms, they are different from each other.
Influenza A is caused by a common virus belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family, which spreads worldwide during flu seasons, leading to respiratory illness.
In contrast, legionnaires’ disease is caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila and manifests as a severe form of pneumonia.
Legionnaires’ disease is also not spread from person to person or by drinking contaminated water, but by breathing in fine droplets of water that contain Legionella bacteria.
Mr Finneran advised everyone to watch for symptoms including sore throat, high temperature, cough, runny nose, muscle aches, extreme fatigue and occasionally, gastro-like symptoms.
“With many of our community unwell, to limit the spread of illness, if your child is unwell and presents with cold or flu symptoms then they should remain home until the symptoms subside,” he said.
“Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the college on 5783 5000.”