Source of legionnaires’ disease uncovered in London, Ont., as outbreak is redeclared
Written by The Canadian Press on August 26, 2025
Public health officials in London, Ont., are redeclaring an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease after confirming 25 new cases and identifying the source of the bacteria.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit says testing at the Sofina Foods plant in the city’s east end found a match to the subtype of legionella bacteria linked to the outbreak.
The health unit says food products from the plant remain safe to eat, as legionnaires’ disease is spread when people breathe in small droplets of water containing the bacteria and it’s not transmitted from eating or drinking.
Legionella bacteria occur naturally in soil and water and can grow in places such as cooling towers, hot water tanks and air-conditioning systems in large buildings.
The health unit says there have been 95 confirmed cases of the respiratory illness in the region so far this year, resulting in four deaths and 86 hospitalizations.
The health agency previously declared an end to the outbreak on Aug. 6, after reporting that no new cases had developed symptoms since July 9.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2025.
The Canadian Press