Likely source of legionnaires' disease found in London, Ont., as outbreak redeclared

Public health officials in London, Ont., have redeclared an outbreak of legionnaires' disease after confirming 25 new cases and identifying the likely source of the bacteria.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit said Tuesday that 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.

Food products from Sofina Foods remain safe to eat, the health unit said, as legionnaires' disease is spread when people breathe in small droplets of water containing the bacteria and it's not transmitted through 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 has previously said tha