Green thumb can be fatal

THE onset of spring has sparked a warning to green thumbs about the risks of potting mix, with seven cases so far this year of a bacteria linked to the potentially deadly Legionnaires’ disease.

Victoria’s acting chief health officer, Dr Brett Sutton, says reported cases of Legionella longbeachae bacteria, commonly found in potting mix, peak in November.

Legionella longbeachae is one cause of Legionnaires’ disease, which can be fatal.

It is found in tiny quantities in the general environment but the ingredients and dampness of potting mix make it an ideal breeding ground.