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Published 15 hours ago • loading... • Updated 16 hours ago
Toronto Public Health Probing Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak
Toronto Public Health is tracing the source and has begun inspections and sampling after six confirmed cases, officials said.
On Monday, Toronto Public Health reported investigating six confirmed Legionnaires' disease cases within a one-kilometre radius of Bathurst Street and Dupont Street, where affected individuals developed symptoms between July 2 and July 26.
Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria found in water systems such as cooling towers and hot tubs; officials stress the illness does not spread from person to person.
Investigators are examining whether this cluster links to a previous outbreak of five cases at Castleview Wychwood Towers, a nearby long-term care home where the most recent case developed symptoms on July 19.
Public health officials are conducting on-site inspections and environmental sampling while implementing precautionary control measures; the risk to the public remains low despite no confirmed source.
Local hospitals and health partners have been notified to help identify additional cases, and the City of Toronto provides further information on its Legionnaires' disease webpage.