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Toronto’s public health officials are looking into a new outbreak of legionnaires’ disease.
This outbreak includes six confirmed cases within about a one-kilometre area near Bathurst and Dupont streets.
The affected individuals either live, work, or have spent time in that region, with symptoms showing up between July 2 and July 26.
Toronto Public Health is trying to find out if this outbreak is connected to an earlier incident involving five cases of legionnaires’ disease at Castleview Wychwood Towers, a long-term care facility nearby.
This illness is caused by legionella bacteria found in water sources and can also be present in cooling towers, hot tubs, sprinkler systems, humidifiers, and decorative fountains.
People can get the disease by inhaling tiny droplets of water that contain the bacteria.
Officials note that legionnaires’ disease doesn’t spread from person to person, and the overall risk to the public remains low.
They are conducting inspections on-site and environmental sampling while putting precautionary measures in place.
No source of infection has been identified so far.
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