As spring breathes new life into gardens across the State, health authorities are reminding West Aussies to take extra care when handling potting mix and soil to avoid a potentially deadly lung infection.

The Department of Health is urging green thumbs to follow simple safety steps to reduce their risk of contracting Legionnaires disease — a serious lung infection caused by inhaling dust or water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria, which can be found in potting mix, soil and compost.

WA Health’s executive director of environmental health, Jane Cook, said there had been 215 cases of Legionnaires disease linked to garden soils and potting mix since the beginning of 2020 — with around 60 per cent of those cases requiring hospitalisation.

“Gardening is a popular spring activ

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