Downtown bar meningitis scare

519 Church community centre to hold vaccination clinic

Toronto Public Health today issued a Meningitis C alert in response to the recent death of a 23 year old male resident and the possible exposure of patrons at a downtown bar.

Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Director of Communicable Disease Control, announced a vaccine clinic will be held tomorrow, Dec. 1, for those who may be at risk, specifically anyone who was at Crews/Tango Bar, 508 Church St. on Friday or Saturday, Nov.17 and 18 and may have shared saliva by sharing food, utensils, drinks or cigarettes or by kissing or other contact.

The vaccine clinic will be held at 519 Community Centre, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“Meningitis C can be a very serious illness and symptoms can become severe very quickly,” said Dr. Yaffe. “We are reaching out to an estimated 300-500 people to advise them to consider their own risk of exposure and to call us for information or come for a vaccine shot tomorrow. Our objective here is to prevent the spread of this illness.”

Dr. Yaffe reported that the 23 year old man died earlier this week. The investigation of close contacts and friends led to the decision to hold a vaccine clinic for patrons of the bar. All other known contacts have been followed up and vaccinated where appropriate.

Meningitis C is a type of invasive meningococcal disease that occurs rarely in Canada and is most common among teenagers and infants. Last year there were no cases reported in Toronto.

Symptoms of Meningitis C include sudden onset of high fever, severe headache, nausea and stiff neck and usually appear within two to 10 days after exposure.

Anyone who is concerned about the risk of Meningitis C should call 416-338-7600.