Mr McLay has infection

Press, 25 October 1985, Page 1

Mr McLay has infection

By OLIVER RIDDELL in Wellington The Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay, has been found to be infected by the Legionnaires organism. During the course of a regular medical examination, evidence had been found of a previous Legionnaires infection, he said last evening. This meant infection by the Legionnaires organism, and there was no indication when or how the infection had occurred, nor did it mean that he necessarily had Legionnaires disease. Mr McLay said his doctor

had been asked to analyse the cause of a minor respiratory cough during a regular medical check. However, because it was a notifiable disease, and since it was now necessary to check the air-conditioning equipment in his office, Mr McLay said it was appropriate to make the facts known. The infection would be treated with a course of antibiotics. Mr McLay said that apart from a minor cough he was

“in perfect health.” He is the third person working in Parliament to be identified as having had the Legionnaires infection. A security guard was discovered to have the infection. After the death of the Speaker, Sir Basil Arthur, it was revealed that he had also had the infection. Having a respiratory complaint would also help explain the “breathlessness” observed by some in Mr McLay.