There's heightened emphasis on the role climate change may play in the spread of legionnaires' disease as London, Ont., deals with its second deadly outbreak since the summer of 2024.

Some scientists point to the Earth's warming temperatures and changing weather patterns — some of the signals of climate change — as playing a big role in accelerating the growth and spread of legionella, the bacteria that cause the serious respiratory condition.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says legionella infection rates have increased dramatically, particularly between 2004 and the present. Experts also say most infections are never reported.

"We're seeing these increases in cases, but is that because we're doing better at finding the cases or is there something happening out there that'

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