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Primary Care Alberta (PCA) and the Edmonton Zone Medical Officers of Health have declared an outbreak of active infectious tuberculosis (TB) in Edmonton’s inner-city.
The decision was made in October after lab testing confirmed two people with TB who reside in the inner-city were infected with the same TB strain, suggesting recent local transmission.
There have been 12 cases identified of TB with connections to Edmonton’s inner-city and people experiencing houselessness, PCA said.
Only three of these individuals are confirmed to have infection with the same strain of TB and considered a part of the outbreak.
TB is a preventable and curable infectious disease which primarily affects the lungs, but can also impact other parts of the body.
It spreads through the air via coughing, sneezing, or spitting and can be treated with antibiotics.
PCA and Medical Officers of Health with Primary and Preventative Health Services are meeting regularly with inner-city agencies and organizations to share information, provide support and carry out assessments and screening for those identified as having close contact.
The outbreak is not considered a risk to the general public at this time.
Contact tracing is being carried out and all exposed individuals will be contacted by PCA, notified of the exposure and the screening required as part of routine follow-up.
Only those individuals contacted directly by PCA are considered exposed and as such, specific case details will not be shared to protect patient privacy.
Anyone with questions or concerns can contact the Edmonton TB clinic at 780-407-4550.