Health -
News Sections
Officials fear Greyhound passengers exposed to TB
CTV News Video
|
Watch: See all Videos in the Player
ctvtoronto.ca
Date: Thu. Oct. 2 2008 6:30 PM ET
Ontario health officials are searching for 27 people who may have been exposed to tuberculosis while travelling on a Greyhound bus from Toronto to Windsor on Aug. 31.
There's a "moderate risk" they contracted the disease, public health officials said Thursday.
A passenger on the bus was sick with the tuberculosis and may have spread it by coughing while in close proximity to the other bus passengers. The passenger, identified only as a woman with a Canadian passport, was detained by American custom officials at the border between Windsor and Detroit.
Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said that since the woman's symptoms aren't serious, passengers shouldn't panic.
"The risk to the public is not a high one but we need to go the extra mile and make sure to contact those people the best we can," he said.
Williams said that it's not clear where the woman was sitting or which passengers face the greatest risk of infection.
The bus departed Toronto at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, and by the time it reached the U.S. border just after 5:00 p.m., 42 passengers were on board.
Health officials want to get hold of the 27 passengers who got off the bus in Windsor so they can be tested for tuberculosis.
The remaining 15 passengers have been identified and are being monitored by health officials in the U.S. and Ontario.
A representative from Greyhound told The Canadian Press that the bus company is fully cooperating and that they have provided officials with a passenger list.
Passengers who were on the bus should call their local public health department or call 1-866-532-3161.
With files from The Canadian Press
User Tools
Most Popular
Most Viewed News Stories
Most Talked about Stories
Perhaps they should look at reducing duties resellers must pay for products coming from the US to Canada in order to level the field? Then it would be prudent for the resellers to offer competitive pricing and good service to maintain a loyal customer base.
Email
Comments are now closed for this story
Malia, Princeton, NJ
said
look out for eachother
said
Mykey, The Lakehead
said
Riley Kilo -Boston Mass
said
Em
said
Howard
said
Hopefully things settle down for Greyhound now.
To everyone calling for metal detectors or health screenings for buses (and thus by extension trains, ferry boats, possibly commuter mass transit...) give you head a shake. As soon as those procedures were implemented you'd be the first complaining about the lineups.
You leave your house in the morning, you take your chances out there in the big scary world.
trish
said
One would think that any transportation company, would do their absolute best, to ensure the safety of the health of their passengers, at all times!!
Ken
said
GC
said
It's becoming all too common in this country to lay blame without any shred of evidence.
KC
said
If you're thinking of running away I spotted some small islands off the coast as I was landing at YVR. Oh wait, you need to somehow make your way through other humans. Forget it! You're doomed!
Allan Gibb
said
It begs the question, are the liberals, NDP and greens more concerned about our safety, or winning votes?
It's time everyone in Canada had access to his own private vehicle.
Hiki
said
Greyhound Senior, Toronto
said
Ian in Guelph
said
Seriously, I sure hope nobody got sick because of this.
Nidhi
said
who do you think is responsible; when you catch infection by shopping around with same person; dining in the same restaurant as his; taking TTC with same guy; touched infected handrail or your bank machine; watching movie in theater...
Come on lead a healthy life by following a healthy life style, building a strong immune system and stop blaming others for the infection you catch.
Keep your self healthy
Ya Sure
said
FrankCanadian
said
You buys your ticket and you takes your chances, be it plane, train,bus or boat.
The chances of a disaster happening to any particular person is similar to being hit by lightning. Of course, swinging a piece of metal above your head on a golf course during a thunderstorm could be challenging.
Rich
said
L.
said
Jim
said
You couldn't pay me to get on one of those things now.
PVT
said
Miso Orni
said
pp
said
The Public Health should tell people the Risk Factor
- risk has to components - *the risk of getting and *the risk of what happens if you get it
The risk of getting it low BUT the risk if you get it High...
I can tell you my aunt had TB and we did not know it - I was around her for a year - kissing hugging etc and guess what - I did not get it... and neither did her husband and kids because they are healthy...
Stop being so paranoid people go and enjoy life.
JWV
said
Jay
said
Gerald from Beleville
said
Fact is...these acts of violence and this TB contamination could have happened anywhere and there is very little that could have been done to prevent them.
Other than a need to reach out and warn the public, this isn't really news. What I find interesting is that "comments" are open for this article. What is there to comment on really? Probably just stirring up the pot and hoping someone brings up the issue of "lack of security on buses", "RMCP didn't do enough...", "healthcare system is in the fritz", etc...
Gwendo
said
Sara
said
Nick J Boragina
said
Hot Tamale
said
David in Toronto
said
Germs Germs Everywhere.
said
Why not have a report on how clean the subway system is?
Ever test those handrails? I bet there's some pretty neat stuff growing there too that people would just LOVE to know about too.
DCR-Toronto
said