Provincial health officials have confirmed a tuberculosis outbreak in the core of Edmonton. This follows lab tests that revealed two residents in the area share the same strain of the disease. Primary Care Alberta (PCA) announced the outbreak in a news release on Thursday, noting that the decision to declare it was made last month after receiving the lab results. These results indicate recent local transmission of the disease.

Tuberculosis primarily affects the lungs but can also impact other parts of the body. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or spits. Fortunately, tuberculosis is treatable with antibiotics. PCA, a newly established provincial agency responsible for primary health services, reported identifying 12 tuberculosis cases this year linked to central Edmonton, particularly among individuals experiencing homelessness. Of these cases, three individuals have been confirmed to have the same strain and are included in the outbreak.

Living in communal settings, such as homeless shelters, increases the risk of tuberculosis transmission. Currently, PCA does not consider the outbreak a risk to the general public. However, contact tracing is actively underway, and individuals who may have been exposed will be contacted by health officials.

PCA is collaborating with medical officers of health from Alberta's Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services. They are meeting regularly with various inner-city agencies and organizations to share information, provide support, and assess and screen individuals identified as close contacts. The health agency is committed to managing the outbreak effectively and ensuring the safety of the community.