Infection kills friends, weeks apart

An Otago woman who died of legionnaires’ disease had six weeks earlier attended the funeral of a friend who died of the same illness.

Keen gardener Josie Padget, 70, died on February 19. She was placed in a coma after being airlifted to Dunedin Hospital from Clyde and never woke up.

Legionnaires’ disease, also known as legionellosis, is a type of pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria, which is commonly found living in potting mix, soils and compost.

Husband Darrell Padget said Josie lived for her garden at their home in Alexandra, especially after retiring from a working life in hospitality.

She was a very private person who would not want to be in the limelight but would want her story told to help someone else, he said. The couple attended the funeral of a friend who died from legionnaires’ disease on December 30.

Josie’s death weeks later was a shock, Darrell Padget said.

‘‘She just got sick, about week before she died.

‘‘She was fit and healthy one day, then a couple of days later we were away to hospital [in Clyde], then choppered to Dunedin [Hospital].’’

They had recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary

a■ Wear a good quality, double strap mask that fits well and covers the nose and mouth.

■ Wear gloves to protect against skin infections and prevent spreading the legionella bug (such as to your mouth).

■ Open bags in a well-ventilated space, away from the face.

■ Wash hands when finished. and had booked a trip to Samoa with friends.

Ministry of Health officials wanted soil and water samples from the house as they believed Josie had a different strain of legionellosis than was usually associated with potting mix, Darrell Padget said.

Southern District Health Board figures show four cases of legionellosis have been notified in its area this year – three in Dunedin and one in Alexandra. Only one was fatal.