Four dead in Streptococcus A outbreak at west-end Montreal seniors home

Montreal health authorities are confirming that four people have died from a Streptococcus A outbreak at a private seniors residence.

A spokesman for the regional health authority says six cases of invasive group A streptococcal infections have been detected in the residence in Montreal’s west end since Monday, including the four fatal cases.

Jean Nicolas Aubé says the disease appears to have spread to a second seniors home, where one case has been detected.

The health authority for the west of Montreal — the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal — confirmed the outbreaks are at Les Résidences Floralies locations in the Lachine and LaSalle boroughs.

The government of Canada’s website says strep A bacteria is usually associated with mild illnesses such as strep throat and sinus infections.

However, in rare cases infection can cause more invasive and life-threatening conditions including pneumonia, flesh-eating disease and toxic shock syndrome.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2022.

The Canadian Press