One dead, two infected after meningococcal disease outbreak declared in Toronto

Toronto is reporting a meningococcal disease outbreak which has left one person dead and two others infected with the bacterial infection, Report informs referring to CTV News.

The three cases are individuals between 20 and 30 years old who began experiencing symptoms between July 15-17, according to a news release from Toronto Public Health (TPH).

The health unit says the infected individuals were born outside of Canada, in countries that don't provide childhood immunization against the disease.

It is unknown where the infected individuals were born.

More specifically, the infection can be spread by kissing, coughing, and sharing common items such as eating utensils, cups, cigarettes, and musical instruments.

Symptoms of the infection include a fever, aches, joint pain, headache, stiff neck and photophobia.

The disease is known to progress quickly and complications include low blood pressure, seizures, loss of hearing, amputations, brain damage or death.

The bacterial infection is relatively rare in Toronto since there are routine vaccinations available for residents.