May 28, 2009 Tuberculosis case identified in Albertan who traveled to B.C. by Greyhound bus Public health staff working to identify passengers who may have been exposed on Lethbridge to Kelowna route Edmonton... Public health staff in Alberta and British Columbia are working with Greyhound Bus Lines to identify passengers who traveled on Greyhound buses #5164 and #5155 on May 24 and were exposed to an active case of tuberculosis. The ill person travelled on Greyhound bus #5164 from Lethbridge to Calgary on May 24, and then Greyhound bus #5155 from Calgary to Kelowna that same day, during the infectious stage of the disease. Alberta health officials notified B.C.’s Interior Health on May 26 that the person had been confirmed as a case of active TB. The individual is currently receiving treatment. Alberta Health Services public health staff are working to ensure that all Alberta contacts of the passenger in question are identified and appropriately screened. Identified contacts deemed to be at risk of infection will be tested and, if necessary, offered preventative treatment. Greyhound bus #5164 originated in Lethbridge on May 24 at 10:30a.m., about 15 minutes behind schedule. The infected person boarded the bus at Lethbridge. The entire route of Greyhound bus #5164 on May 24 was: Lethbridge - Fort MacLeod - Claresholm - Stavely - Nanton - Calgary South - Calgary bus depot. The person then changed buses and boarded Greyhound bus #5155 originating in Calgary at 1:30 p.m., bound for Kelowna. The entire route of Greyhound bus #5155 on May 24 was: Calgary - Canmore - Banff - Castle Junction - Lake Louise - Alberta/British Columbia Border - West Louise Lodge - Field Junction - Golden - Glacier Park - Rogers Pass - Revelstoke - Sicamous - Salmon Arm - Enderby - Armstrong - Vernon - Oyama - Winfield - Kelowna. Passengers who were on either one or both buses may be at some risk of exposure. As not all bus tickets had full names or addresses, this public notification is to help ensure that those who may be at risk contact public health officials. Persons in Alberta who were on these buses can call Health Link at 1-866-408-5465, or their local public health care provider, to determine whether they need to be tested, or for more information. This case poses no health risk to the general population; only passengers who were on these buses at the given times and along the routes listed above are advised to have the TB skin test to help determine whether or not they were infected. -30- Media inquiries may be directed to: Howard May Don Stewart Communications Communications Alberta Health and Wellness Alberta Health Services 403-660-1870 403-943-1210 To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000. Alberta Government | Newsroom | Ministries Listing | Health and Wellness Home Page | News Releases | Top of Page | Send us your comments or questions Copyright(©) 2009 Government of Alberta .