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A warning has been issued to spa pool owners after at least eight people contracted deadly Legionnaires’ disease from poorly maintained, contaminated water.

Health NZ Te Whatu Ora said this afternoon that recent ESR analysis of those infected with the disease in the year to March 2025 had shown some cases had clear links with infected spa pool water.

National Public Health Service (NPHS) specialist Dr Matt Reid said while most cases of legionellosis in New Zealand came from potting mix or compost, one type of legionellosis is associated with hot-water systems.

“In these cases, the testing showed that in eight out of the 10 cases reported, the same type of Legionella bacteria was detected in both the infected person and in water samples taken from their spa pools. This means that infected water was the most likely source of infection.

“Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia that results in a chest infection caused by a bacteria called Legionella, an environmental organism that lives in moist conditions, such as soil, compost, potting mix, or spa pools and water systems,” Reid said.

He said a further investigation by HPHS in the central region – following a recent case of the disease after contact with infected water – found that the spa pool the person had bathed in had not been properly cleaned or maintained over time.

“The 10 cases detected in the year to March is also a significant jump on the three cases recorded for the same period the previous year, hence we are reminding pool owners to make sure that their spa is regularly cleaned, maintained and disinfected using approved products.”

Reid said care also must be taken when using soil and gardening products such as potting mix, seed raising mix, compost or other similar products, which can harbour the Legionella bacteria.

“It’s particularly important to be careful when using these products and not to inhale the dust from them.

“To keep yourself safe, we recommend wearing a disposable face mask and gloves when opening bags of potting mix or other soil products, and to do your potting outside in a well-ventilated area. You can also use a sprinkle of water to dampen down potting mix or compost to stop the dust from spreading in the air, and make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after touching potting mix or soil products or after doing any gardening.”

People may catch Legionnaires’ disease by inhaling airborne droplets or particles containing the bacteria – which can cause illness ranging from mild to severe, and in some cases can be fatal.

“It is more common in older people, particularly if they smoke, have poor immunity or have a chronic illness, and those with compromised immune systems are at increased risk of infection,” Health New Zealand said.