Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 12, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - The number of people who contracted tuberculosis from a homeless man at the Salvation Army shelter in Yellowknife has risen to 12. Nine cases had been reported as of early October.

According to Dr. Andre Corriveau, chief medical officer with the Department of Health and Social Services, all cases stem from one individual who stayed at the Salvation Army last March.

Dr. Andre Corriveau

"There is a list of people that we're following up with and get tested periodically," said Corriveau.

He said a couple of individuals infected were tracked to the Tlicho region, and some as far as Toronto.

A variety of means has been used to try and find all individuals who may be at risk of having contracted TB from the original Yellowknife case.

The popular online networking site Facebook was even used to track down a man in northern Alberta who needed to be notified that he should be tested.

"People use the shelter from all places," said Corriveau. "Luckily the Salvation Army has very good records of who stays there every night."

The majority of people who came into contact with the original case have been tested once or twice, but TB infection can remain undetected for some time, he said.

"You have to check them at least every six months because it's a very slow-growing bug," said Corriveau.

"Sometimes the first time you check they're OK, but some of the cases we (confirmed) in September were fine in June."

There are still about four people at risk of infection who, despite various attempts, cannot be located.

"We'll keep trying, but it's one of those things," said Corriveau. "People are mobile and they move around and that's one of the challenges."