Edmonton doctor says inner-city TB outbreak low risk to general public

The head of Alberta's tuberculosis clinic says an outbreak in Edmonton's inner city is of little risk to Edmontonians at large.

"The risk of this outbreak spreading to the general population is extremely low,” Dr. Ryan Cooper told CBC News.

“Most of these cases don't appear to reflect transmission in the inner-city. Rather, they reflect reactivation in the setting of other health factors, other social factors.”

Details are slowly emerging from Alberta's government about an active tuberculosis outbreak that was declared internally last month.

WATCH | Watch TB outbreak in inner-city Edmonton:

Primary Care Alberta declares tuberculosis outbreak in inner-city Edmonton

November 15|

Duration2:17

A tuberculosis outbreak in Edmonton is primarily impacting the city's homeless population. Most of the cases are from the disease reawakening in people's bodies as opposed to being contracted from another person.

At a news conference Friday, the province was asked about the outbreak of TB, which was declared after two people contracted the same strain of the disease, suggesting there was local spread.

"We're working very, very closely, particularly in Edmonton with our partners in primary care to make sure that we're getting adequate primary health care resources into all of our shelter system,” said Jason Nixon, minister of assisted living and social services.

Primary Care Alberta first notified the public Thursday. The public service announcement said health authorities declared an outbreak in October but did not specify a date or explain why the information was not publicized until weeks later.

As of Thursday, health officials had identified 12 tuberculosis cases so far this year that were connected to central Edmonton and homeless people. Three of those people had the same strain of TB and are considered part of the outbreak.

As of Friday evening, provincial officials have not responded to CBC’s request for more details.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs, but can affect other parts of the body. It is spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes and spits.

Living in communal spaces, including homeless shelters, is a factor that can increase the risk of tuberculosis infection.

"Improving some of these social determinants of housing, ensuring adequate nutrition, and adequate housing will be extremely helpful in preventing TB disease in individuals and reducing the risk of spread in vulnerable populations," Cooper said.

Social worker Andre Tinio recently recovered after fighting severe tuberculosis for a year. The infection affected his his colon, appendix, two vertebrae, and his lungs.

He worries about how such a diagnosis is impacting Edmontonians without a home given the nature of the treatment.

"The medication is so intrusive, you need to be watched, you need to follow and comply to a lot of the health regimes that they want you to do," Tinio said.

"But when you're in a position where you have to think about your food, your mental health, how do I get to appointments — to compound with now living with TB and trying to get rid of that, it exacerbates everything in your life."

Staff from the City of Edmonton said they are helping to address the outbreak under direction of the province.