Toronto Public Health has now confirmed three cases of the serious and invasive meningococcal disease within the city.
Three individuals, aged 20 to 30, have been affected, with symptoms starting between July 15 and July 17. One of them has died.
Those infected have all been born outside of Canada in countries that do not provide childhood immunization against the disease, the city said in a news release on Aug. 25. The vaccine for the disease within Ontario is required for all children attending, unless exempted.
Currently no link has been found between these cases, though the three infected all had the same uncommon strain of serogroup C meningococcal disease, the city said.
City recommends that young adults aged 20 to 36 years old who have not received the vaccine should contact a healthcare provider to get this arranged as soon as possible.
Meningococcal disease often comes with severe and deadly illness, including infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord – typically referred to as meningitis – and blood stream.
Symptoms like fever, joint pain, headache and other aches, stiff neck and photophobia (eye discomfort in bright light) are signs of the disease and public health recommends that a healthcare provider be seen as soon as possible if these symptoms are present.
