Stomach bacteria study lands in Inuvik
Researchers seek causes and cure for ailment that affects up to 70 per cent of Beaufort-Delta residents
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Monday, November 2, 2015
INUVIK
There is a bug living in the stomachs of up to 70 per cent of Beaufort-Delta residents, and now a group of researchers are trying to figure out where it comes from and how to cure it.
After sessions in Fort McPherson, Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk, the CanHelp Working Group - an organization based at the University of Alberta in Edmonton that researches the H. pylori bacteria - is looking to expand to Inuvik.
H. pylori is a stomach bacteria that can cause inflammation of the stomach lining, resulting in illnesses such as ulcers and cancer. Currently, the three-medication regimen is standard in Canada has a success rate of 80 per cent under ideal conditions.
Ali Assi, the acting community projects lead with the group, however, said those conditions are unlikely.
"Failure of the treatment is common all over the world," he said, adding that this is especially true in regions where the bacteria is prevalent. "We're trying a four-drug treatment in the North and it's working better."
CanHelp goes into communities and runs tests on volunteers. First there is a breath test, and for those who have the bacteria, there is a second endoscopic test, followed by the four-drug regimen. There is no cost to participate for either individuals or the community and the program is entirely voluntary. Between 60 and 70 per cent of people tested in communities in the region so far have the bacteria.
H. pylori, Assi said, is present in about 50 per cent of the global population, although some populations seem to be more susceptible than others.
While there have been some rumours the bacteria is in the water, Assi said this has not been borne out in evidence anywhere in the world, including the Beaufort-Delta.
"In Aklavik, we cannot say the water is causing H. pylori," he said, adding it is known to be most often passed from person to person.
"We wish we knew where it's coming from, then we wouldn't have a problem. We're trying to know in Northern communities what is happening."
Because the bacteria typically lives in the stomach, it is typically transferred during infancy or childhood through contact with infected vomit or diarrhea.
More than 30 people, including doctors and nurses, turned out for an information session at the Inuvik Community Corporation on Oct. 22.
While the overall response was positive, there were a few concerns.
"It's been eight years, shouldn't you have a cure by now?" asked Wilma Dosedel.
"Aren't you just using people as guinea pigs?"
Assi said that for H. pylori positive research participants who have an endoscopy, the particular bacteria they carry can be tested to check if the bacteria is resistant to any of the drugs being used. If so, treatment can be tailored to the participant to help improve treatment success. For some, the treatment would be welcome.
"I am a person with H. pylori but I'm not a guinea pig," said Ruby Firth, who said she suspects she has had complications from the bacteria for 25 years and now has an ulcer.
"I'm just a person looking for a treatment."
At the end of the session, interest was gauged by a show of hands with an overwhelmingly positive result.
The group will now contact the leadership in the community, including the municipality and indigenous governments, who will hopefully put together their own committee to spearhead the program in Inuvik.
"The time frame will be dependent on the response," said Evelyn Storr with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.
"We've had really strong support in other communities. The quicker we get that support and set up a meeting of the working group, the quicker we can get started."
