A person is fighting for life and two others are sick after another outbreak of the potentially deadly Legionnaires' disease in Sydney.
An elderly man and two younger women have presented to health authorities since contracting the infection in Sydney's CBD in the past week.
"One patient is recovering and possibly discharged, another is stable, and a third patient is in a critical condition," NSW Health spokeswoman Vicky Sheppeard told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.
The trio have each spent time in a pocket of the city bordered by Market, George, King and Kent streets since Anzac Day.
"All three people work in that part of the city and they do visit there regularly," Dr Sheppeard said.
"All of these people had underlying conditions that disposed them to catching Legionnaires disease."
Cancer patients, smokers, people with severe immune diseases or who are undergoing immunosuppressive treatments are all susceptible to the disease, Dr Sheppeard said.
Legionnaires disease is a type of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection that can develop in people after they inhale contaminated water vapour or dust.
There is no obvious link between the latest cases and an outbreak in March, which claimed the life of an elderly man, but authorities are not ruling out the possibility.
"Obviously we're working as quickly as we can to identify any source that is remaining in that area," Dr Sheppeard said.
"That said, the most recent case was onset on April 28, so we have no evidence that there is an ongoing risk."
People who have visited that part of the city have nonetheless been advised to pay attention to symptoms including coughs, chills and shortness of breath.
"If you experience these symptoms certainly go to see your GP and be examined and tested if necessary," Dr Sheppeard said.
City of Sydney officials will inspect 67 water cooling towers over the next two days.
Health authorities have ruled out all bar one of about 200 cooling towers tested as the probable cause of the fatal March outbreak.
However, they will not identify the tower until more contamination tests are carried out.
If a building is found to be responsible, it could be decommissioned until it receives the all clear.
A coronial inquest would need to decide on any further action if a person dies of the outbreak.
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