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Officials fear Greyhound passengers exposed to TB

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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

Comments are now closed for this story

DCR-Toronto
said

I guess it's time people quit taking the Greyhound. Airplanes next. Too many people confined in a very small place. People snap, people carry weapons, people carry disease. It's rolling the dice just to travel. A nice little house out on the prairie is starting to sound good.


Germs Germs Everywhere.
said

The warning is appreciated but....this certainly won't help boost confidence in Greyhound ridership after the year they've had so far.

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.


David in Toronto
said

Man, it seems like nothing is going right for Greyhound this year


Hot Tamale
said

Let's see...in addition to the calls for security screenings and armed bus drivers, why don't we call for mandatory health screening for bus passengers? You must have a valid medical declaration within the past 60 days to board a bus....

Nick J Boragina
said

Yea, we should stop taking greyhound and take... oh that's right, there is no other alternative to many of these destinations.


Sara
said

You cannot blame Greyhound for incidents that are out of their control. A TB outbreak can occur anywhere, jsut as violent people can lose it anywhere. There are many more weapons and diseases on the streets of Toronto than on buses!


Gwendo
said

I kinda agree that these sort of things are totally out of Greyhound's hand, this should be an eye oppener for people taking buses to look for signs and be carefull, I will from now on...


Gerald from Beleville
said

Kneejerk reaction. Greyhound came to the forefront becasue of the grisly murder...and since it's now a household "name" with dramatic connotations, it's going to surface in the news anytime anything happens.

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...


Jay
said

Is it just me, or does it seem very dangerous to be taking a Greyhound bus now-a-days?


JWV
said

Greyhound sure is taking it in the rear end lately. But, come on, what else can you expect when taking cheap cross country travel like the bus? I remember taking the bus when I was fifteen and for six hours got to listen to a couple fight, a baby cry, some guy behind me sick with a flu who kicked my chair constantly, and some other guy talk to himself about the martian that lived in his brain. Exposure to disease, being surrounded by people who you would consider abnormal, some even dangerous, and getting involved in other peoples personal business just by being in close proximity. Sounds like going to the mall on a Saturday.


pp
said

Oh for heaven sake - It is not that easy to catch TB - you really need long term exposure and a compromised immune system. Yes it is prudent to warn the public but why get people all freaked out about things.

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.


Miso Orni
said

I disagree. I think Greyhound should take responsibility for all events that have happened on their property this year. They should take measures to protect innocent passengers who have put their trust in them and enact the necessary steps to make it happen sooner than later. I can see a massive lawsuit driving Greyhound to the ground soon.


PVT
said

Looks to me like Greyhound won't be seeing my business ever again. Murders, assaults, TB......sheesh.....


Jim
said

When I was much younger I used to take the grey hound and voyeguer bus lines to get around.

You couldn't pay me to get on one of those things now.


L.
said

Miso....Give me a break. How can Greyhound be responsible because someone is sick? The contaminated person could've just as easily shopped at the same grocery store you do....would you then sue the store?? Doubtful.The world is a very public place. The second you leave your house you are surrounded by people. You are surrounded by germs and sickness every day yet most of us stay healthy. In this instance, Greyhound cannot be help liable, sorry.


Rich
said

I hope the passenger didn't know he/she had this disease before boarding the bus. He/she should have seen a doctor for the cough. Bus drivers and officials, who suspect or are informed by fellow passengers that a passenger is a health risk, should have the authority to remove the passenger unless the passenger has a health note from a doctor indicating that he/she is low risk.


FrankCanadian
said

Oh, who cares.
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.


Ya Sure
said

If any bus line should have metal detectors and health screening it is the TTC.


Nidhi
said

You don't catch infection if you have strong immune system. I you are infected for some reasons, you should be liable for a poor immune system.

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



Ian in Guelph
said

Well I guess it's time people quit going out in public. Some folks have diseases, some commit crimes, some dress differently or smell weird, and some folks even believe entirely different things! Absolutely unthinkable.

Seriously, I sure hope nobody got sick because of this.


Greyhound Senior, Toronto
said

... the chances of contracting T.B. are much lower ... And Greyhound safely transports millions of people every year, including me. Our streets are less safe than a Greyhound bus. The statistical chances of coming to harm on a bus are infinitesimal.


Hiki
said

I applaud the health agency for warning the public and not trying to cover it all up.



Allan Gibb
said

Liberals, NDP and greens are crying murder about the environment, forcing the issue and urging people to take mass transit. But with all the immigrants and travellers who have communicable diseases and who come to Canada and use mass transit, is it really safe or sane to use mass transit?

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.


KC
said

Why are posters picking on Greyhound?? How many people with deadly diseases got on board your commuter bus this morning on your way to work? How many customers did you meet with were infected with something?

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!


GC
said

Those of you blaming Greyhound need to give your heads a shake.

It's becoming all too common in this country to lay blame without any shred of evidence.

Ken
said

Man leave the dog alone. I guess every little thing that happens on a bus for the next 6 months will be blown out of proportion. Exposure to violent acts and TB can happen anywhere in public.


trish
said

It is my hope that every effort is made to prevent any disease from being spread. In the same way that a kitchen must be sanitized, so should the whole transportation industry.

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!!


Howard
said

There's a saying that bad things happen in threes. Here's hoping that Greyhound has just seen the last problem. A truly bizarre beheading, another stabbing, and now possible TB exposed passengers. Man, that poor company can't buy a break, but the media do nothing to help. I guarantee they've seen ridership drop recently as a result of this bad press. Try to remember that it's a long standing company with a good record and lots of good people work there.

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.


Em
said

Come on! Some of the comments frustrate me. You could be exposed to TB anywhere confined, I suppose...restaurants...malls....school....(like I was)...it doesn't mean you are destined necessarily to get it (I didn't). I am tired of this sensationalization! How many millions of trips have greyhound buses taken without incident! With all the scare tactics out there...what are you going to do...live in a protective bubble or enjoy life for the good it has to offer.


Riley Kilo -Boston Mass
said

I took a greyhound from Albany NY to Sacramento CA and I was exposed to racism, hatred, forceful Christianity, drug addiction, and 3 days of nothing but mcdonalds.




Mykey, The Lakehead
said

I've travelled by Greyhound plenty of times. They're the best. They will see me again.


look out for eachother
said

This is why people who have a cough need to carefully cover their mouths and wear a mask when in an enclosed setting with others. The coughers' mask should be a surgical type one (does not allow germs out). The others should be provided with a N95 mask (keeps germs from coming in) when stuck with a cougher for a prolonged period of time. We don't know for sure whether that person has TB or not, and often the Dr's don't know this for a while. There are often wrong/ delayed diagnoses for active TB. In the meantime, the person could be infectious with TB, unknowingly exposing people by coughing.


Malia, Princeton, NJ
said

I cough alot and I don't have TB. (Smoker's hack) Poor Greyhound, they don't deserve this. There are looneys in every country! (And I'm not talking about the money...lol)As far as screening goes, give me a break, how much security is too much? I want to get the Nanny State out of my butt. Do we want do be like the UK? Pretty soon they'll be telling their citizens when (and how much they'll have to pay) to be allowed to breathe!


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