A woman has been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease after she was exposed to Legionella bacteria found in cooling towers in the Haymarket area. 

The woman in her 50s is one of three people who have contracted the disease in the area this year.

The two towers, which are no longer operating, were found to be contaminated during an investigation into two Legionnaires’ cases earlier this year, according to the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.

The SESLHD says the two affected people – a man in his 40s and another in his 70s – have since recovered.

The woman is also recovering after being discharged from hospital.

SESLHD public health director professor Mark Ferson says symptoms can develop up to 10 days from the time of exposure and include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath

Anyone who may have been in the Haymarket area in the past month is advised to be on the lookout for symptoms.

“People who develop this disease are diagnosed by chest X-ray and a urine test and usually require antibiotic treatment in hospital,” Professor Ferson said in a statement on Friday.

Legionnaires’ disease cannot be spread from person to person, with outbreaks of the disease most commonly linked to contaminated water cooling systems of air conditioning plants in large buildings.