FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The Larimer County Health Department is investigating several cases of meningococcal disease that have occurred over the past two weeks in Fort Collins, resulting in the death of a Fort Collins man.

Three cases have been confirmed as invasive meningococcal infections. Test results are still pending on one case with symptoms of bacterial meningitis.

The health department said it is looking into connections among any of the cases.

7NEWS has learned that two of the cases are linked to the Edora Pool and Ice Center or EPIC Arena in Fort Collins. All reported cases are men in their 20s.

Two hockey players in an adult league at EPIC played in the same game last Wednesday, June 9. The two men came down with the same symptoms about three days later.

One of the men is now in critical condition.

The other, 29-year-old Brian Wormus, died Monday. Wormus had two sons, an 11-year-old and a 4-year-old. He also leaves behind his wife, two brothers and his mother and father, who still live in Fort Collins.

A third meningitis case on the Colorado State University campus may also be linked to the cases at EPIC.

Tim Wormus, Brian's older brother, said Brian's illness came on very quickly Sunday. Tim said Brian thought it might be a severe cold or the flu.

"By the time we knew anything was really wrong with him it was just too late for him," said Tim Wormus. "It just feels senseless. We have a very close family. My mother and father are devestated. I think we'll pull together as a family and we'll all get through it. But, it's not going to be easy or pleasant,"

Health officials said Thursday that meningitis can be treated, but in the Wormus case, Tim said Brian simply didn't seek medical attention early enough. Perhaps because he was recently laid off and did not have health insurance. Although, Tim speculated even with insurance, Brian likely would have waiting to see if he could "shake the bug."

Health officials said Thursday it may have been transmitted at the hockey game when the players took out their mouth pieces at the end of the game and shook hands. Meningitis is primarily transmitted orally.

All the hockey players who participated in the game June 9 were offered an antibiotic that is one pill. Many took it.

"I took it last night," said hockey player Jake Kershner. "It's been pretty scary really. My big concern was for my family."

Kershner played against Wormus on June 9. Kershner said he had played against Wormus a number of times. "He was good. I would say more times than not, he beat us."

A state lab is now testing the strains, and if all three are identical, Larimer County is considering the possibility of launching a wide-scale vaccination effort.

The first person to test positive for the disease was a student at CSU. The second man was married to an employee at CSU who recently graduated with her masters degree. The third case is a man who plays hockey with some students from the university.

Wormus was 1999 graduate of Poudre High School and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maine in 2005.

"At CSU we typically have on the average one or fewer cases per year," said Dr. Jane Higgins, of CSU. "So having four possible [cases] in this county, which isn't that big, in a small span of time, does seem unusual."

Meningococcal disease is a severe infection caused by bacteria known as Neisseria menigitidis. These are common bacteria that are found in the throats of five to 15 percent of the population. It is uncommon for these bacteria to cause disease, but when they do, life-threatening illness can occur and can lead to rapid death in about 10 percent of cases.

The health department has been notifying people who had close contact with the confirmed cases in the seven days prior to the onset of illness to recommend preventive antibiotics to decrease the chance of additional cases. The bacteria spreads through secretions from the nose and throat.

A memorial service for Wormus will be held Saturday at 10 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church on College and Myrtle St. in Fort Collins. His brother said the father of two had recently enrolled in community college courses to study clean-energy technologies.

A trust for to help fund the education of his children, Braden and Evan, has been set up at Home State Bank. Donations can also be made through Vessey Funeral Services.