Both patients returned to the hospital shortly after their disappearances, but doctors are concerned about the two disappearances because patients in the early stages of the disease are contagious.

"They are kept in the hospital during the early stages where there is live bacteria in their sputum," said Dr. Andre Corriveau, NWT medical officer.

However, the early stages can last from two weeks to four months.

Undoubtedly, an extended hospital stay is not high up on many peoples "to-do" list, but doctors have an obligation to protect the public, as well as the patient.

"Under the Public Health Act, we have a responsibility to ensure that other people don't get the disease, which is potentially fatal, especially for children," said Corriveau.

The acting director of patient care at the hospital had no comment as to whether the hospital would increase security in order to discourage a repeat occurrence.

In the 19th century, tuberculosis was called consumption. It was responsible for one in every five deaths in people under 50.

Much has changed since then. Today, TB is easily controlled and rarely causes death.

In the NWT, 37 cases of tuberculosis were reported in 1996. Eight cases were reported from January to April of this year. The bulk of NWT TB patients come from the Fort Smith-Mackenzie region.

Spread by airborne germs, TB generally affects the lungs but can also attack other parts of the body. It is treatable with medication, but may take up to one year for the infection to disappear.