(Montreal) Four people have died following an outbreak of invasive group A streptococcal infections among residents of a private residence for seniors (RPA) in the west of the island, confirms the Regional Direction of Montreal public health.
Posted at 5:29 p.m.
Public health indicates that six cases of this infection have been identified as of Monday in this residence located on the territory of the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, four of which have led to deaths.
Montreal public health spokesperson Jean Nicolas Aubé added that an additional case has been detected in another residence in the west of the island, without specifying which one.
However, the CIUSSS has confirmed that the RPAs affected are Les Résidences Floralies in the Lachine and LaSalle districts.
According to the Government of Canada, group A streptococci are bacteria that commonly cause mild illnesses such as throat infections or sinusitis.
However, more rarely, certain so-called “invasive” infections can cause a more serious illness, such as pneumonia, a flesh-eating bacteria infection or toxic shock syndrome. Some of these more serious situations can lead to fatalities.