Woman, 67, dies of legionnaires' disease

Health officials are attempting to find the source of the legionnaires' disease that killed a north Canterbury rest home resident.

The 67-year-old woman, who has not been named, died at Holmwood, in Rangiora, last Wednesday, The Press reported. Geoff Hipkins, chief executive of Oceania Group, which owns Holmwood, said the source of the disease was not yet known, but testing had shown it was not in the water system, heat pumps or water coolers.

"We've done all the appropriate tests at the facility and are co-operating with the Canterbury District Health Board," he said.

Canterbury medical officer of health Ramon Pink said tests showed the strain was not the one usually found in potting mix and responsible for about two-thirds of cases.

Bacteria associated with the woman's death matched the bacteria responsible for a 2005 outbreak that killed three people and infected at least 19.

Canterbury has the highest cases of legionnaires' disease in New Zealand, with 23 in the past year.

- NZPA