Department of Health hit by Legionnaires outbreak

It is believed the outbreak is linked to stagnant water in the showers of the Department of Health building on Miesian Plaza, Dublin, left there during the pandemic when most people were working from home. Photo: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

The shower room in the Department of Health has been infected with Legionnaires' Disease, a severe type of pneumonia caused by breathing airborne bacteria linked to stagnant water.

Specialist contractors have now been called in to clean up the room, a spokeswoman for the Office of Public Works (OPW) has confirmed.