After nine deaths in London, Ont., due to a group A streptococcus outbreak made national headlines, public health officials have confirmed to CBC Toronto that 10 people have died in this city in 2017 due to the same infection. The number of dead in Toronto is causing major worries among health professionals, just as health officials are also wrestling with the nine deaths reported in London over the last 18 months. Street nurse Cathy Crowe says she is 'shocked' by the number of strep A deaths in Toronto over the past year and questions response time by public health officials. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reports that it can spread easily and in virulent forms through open skin wounds, and also through intravenous drug use. An 18-month-long outbreakToronto health officials battled a long strep A outbreak at Seaton House, a homeless shelter at the intersection of Gerrard and Jarvis Streets.

Source: CBC News December 02, 2017 13:00 UTC