TB outbreak in Nain soars to 50 cases

Fifty people in Nainare now being treated for tuberculosis,up from six suspected cases in April although health officials say the spread of the disease is showing signs of slowing.

There are 23 people with either confirmed or suspected active cases, as well as 27 people with latent TB, meaning they don't have any symptoms but still requiremedication.

"The number we've been picking up has been slowing down over recent weeks," said Dr. GabeWoollam, the vice-president of medical services with Labrador-Grenfell Health.

"Ithink when we're dealing with an outbreak like this, we always expect to find more cases aroundafter the initial case. And Ithink it's an indication that our contact tracing and our screening thatwe've been doing is effective."

• 6 'probable' cases of TB in Nain as screening continues after teen's death

• People of Nain want answers after 14-year-old dies of tuberculosis

Labrador-Grenfell Health increased its efforts to screen and treat tuberculosisin the community following the death of 14-year-old Gussie Bennett, suspected to have died from the disease.

X-Rays, clinics ongoing

An x-ray machine has been stationed in the community,on loan from the federal government's National Emergency Strategic Stockpile, a servicethat provides medicalresources to communities in the midst of crisis.

So far, 254 people have been x-rayed, with another clinic scheduled for next week.

"This really makes life better for people, in that they can get all or most of the investigations that they need for TB done in the community," said Woollam.

"It's been critical actually, in terms of decreasing the amount of people who've had to come to Goose Bay for follow up," added Sylvia Doody, the director of health services with the Nunatsiavut Government.

Doody said there have been numerous clinics in Nain, withphysicians either flying out to the community or communicating via video or Telehealth.Two community meetings in 2018 have also involved in-depth conversations about tuberculosis treatment and prevention.

"Challenges with compliance"

2018's outbreak comes on the heels of one in 2014-2015, in which 14 people were diagnosedand oneman succumbed to the disease. Woollam and Doodyagreedit's been tough to keep tuberculosis on people's minds once the initial crisis fades.

• 14 tuberculosis cases in Nain a 'significant concern' in wake of death

"When there's an outbreak, people are very engaged with TB as a problem, and are very anxious to get seen,treated and screened.But we do have problems as we get further away from an initial outbreak," said Woollam.

"People have other interests, and other things take over, and we have a harder time getting people to clinics, follow up with medications,that type of thing."

Up until now, people with latent tuberculosis usually need a nine-month course of treatment, with medication either daily or twice weekly. Woollamhas hopes fora new drug regime that has just been approved for Canada, which shortens that treatment time to a once-a-week dose for 12 weeks.

Doody said there were "challenges with compliance," and making sure people continue their courses of treatment even after their symptoms fade. She said health workers are trying different things, such as offering ice cream to kids, doing home visits, or providing rides to clinics.

Fighting the stigma

As the number of new cases slows, Doodysaid the community also needs to take steps, encouraging each other "to support people whether it's family, friends, someone they know in the community to help them through that journey and take that long course of medication."

Our message is to try and educate the public on how difficult it is to catch TB.- Dr. GabeWoollam

Both Doody and Woollamsaid there's a need for more education about the transmission of tuberculosisto fight the stigma surrounding the disease.

Tuberculosis spreads through the air from person to person, but is not spread by contact such as shaking hands, sharing drinks or toothbrushes, and kissing.

"Our message is try to educate the public on how difficult it is to catch TB in a casual setting. In order to catch TB you need to be in close proximity to somebody with TB for a prolonged amount of time, in a place that doesn't have good ventilation, in close quarters," said Woollam.

"We want that message to get out so people aren't afraid to go to Nain or other communities where there is TB."

Read more articles from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador