An elderly man has died after an outbreak of legionnaires' disease in Sydney's CBD, but the state government now believes the crisis is over.
NSW Health has confirmed a total of nine people contracted the potentially fatal disease, which is believed to have been spread by a contaminated cooling tower in the populous Town Hall area.
The same strain of the disease was found in a man in his 80s who died over the weekend, however he also had a "serious underlying condition", NSW Health communicable diseases director Dr Vicky Sheppeard said on Wednesday.
She said all of the nine people affected had spent time within central Sydney in late February.
"No cases of legionnaires' disease linked to the Sydney CBD have developed since 4 March, suggesting the outbreak may be over," she said.
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Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection of the lungs that can develop after someone breathes contaminated water vapour or dust.
Cooling towers are being inspected in an area bounded by Kent, Druitt, Pitt and Bathurst streets.
Inspections were also conducted around Sussex and Elizabeth streets last week.
