Opening bag of compost almost fatal

Exposure to potting mix and compost have legionnaires' disease rates accelerating in the South, a Southern District Health Board doctor says.

New Zealand had a 141% increase in reported cases of the pneumonia-like infection last year compared with 2009.

Of the 178 reported cases last year, there were five related deaths and 136 hospitalisations.

And 43% of the reported cases were from the Southern and Canterbury health boards.

Mosgiel man Edgar Clinch left work early on November 9 last year, feeling sick with flu-like symptoms.

The Cadbury confectioner (47) said his wife Vicki was surprised to see him home, because he never took time off work, so gave him two options - "go to the doctor, or go back to work".

He still thought he had the flu when he returned from the doctor, Mrs Clinch said.

However, when he began vomiting blood the following day, he went for blood tests which revealed he was hosting legionnaires' disease, she said.

He was admitted to hospital, and spent 10 days in the Dunedin intensive care unit.

Mrs Clinch asked the doctor what her husband's chances were.

"They said he's very ill. He's got a one-in-ten chance of survival,"

Seven days before being admitted into hospital, he had opened a bag of compost for her, she said.

While he lay in hospital, a sample of leftover compost was taken from their Mosgiel home and the legionella bacteria associated with the disease was found.

He remembered seeing a health warning on the bag of compost but cut open the bag thinking "she'll be right".

Opening the bag was the only contact he had had with the compost, he said.

Mr Clinch stayed in hospital until Christmas and could not return to work until mid-January.

Southern District Health Board spokesman Dougal Thorburn said 15 cases of legionnaires' disease were reported in the catchment last year and 12 so far this year.

During the previous decade there was an average of four cases reported annually to the Southern DHB, Dr Thorburn said.

"The increase of legionnaires' disease in the Southern DHB catchment area has been reflected by a similar increase in Canterbury."

Anyone with symptoms should seek medical attention and mention any exposure to compost or potting mix.

"Assume all compost and potting mix is contaminated with legionella bacteria. Make sure you don't puff it in your face."

The disease could not spread between people, he said.

As well as inhaling potting mix or compost, historically the infection has been caught from exposure to contaminated water in plumbing systems, air conditioning units or cooling towers.

 

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Legionnaires' disease:

SYMPTOMS
• High fever.
• Shortness of breath.
• Dry cough.
• Sweating.

DEALING WITH COMPOST
• Do not rip bags open. Use scissors.
• Wear a face mask.
• Dampen dry compost or potting mix to prevent it blowing about.
• Pot plants in a well-ventilated area.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after using compost.

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  - Shawn McAvinuel