Toronto: Toronto Public Health (TPH) has confirmed three cases of invasive bacterial meningococcal disease while one person has died from the virus in Toronto.

Two people got infected from this bacterial infection.

According to the TPH, three affected individuals, who are between, aged between 20 and 30, began to experience symptoms between July 15 and 17.

The health officials said that infected trio were born outside of Canada in countries not providing childhood immunization against meningococcal disease. It was not yet clear where the three men were born and TPH yet not find links in these three cases. But all three individuals have recently been confirmed to have the same rare strain of serogroup C meningococcal disease strain.

The highly dangerous meningococcal infection belongs to the Nesseria meningitidis bacteria, due to which the infection spreads to the lining of the brain, spinal cord and bloodstream.

TPH also said that this bacteria is transmitted from person to person through breathing and with saliva or sputum etc.

Generally, this bacteria spread due to being very close contact with other person. It is also spread by kissing each other, coughing and using shared utensils, cups, cigarettes and musical instruments.

Its common symptoms are fever, pain, joint pain, headache, palpitations and photophobia.

The disease spreads rapidly and due to its severe form, blood pressure decreases, seizures, hearing loss, brain damage, an organ may have to be amputated or even death.

Health officials issued advisory and said that adults between 20 and 36 years old who have not received a meningococcal disease vaccine are strongly recommended to contact their health care provider to receive a meningococcal disease vaccine as soon as possible.

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