The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control and the Interior Health Authority, in conjunction with health authorities in Alberta, are issuing a public health advisory 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 took 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 Interior Health and BCCDC on May 26 that the person had recently been diagnosed as a case of active TB. The individual is currently receiving treatment in Kelowna.
Officials from Interior Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control (an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority) are working in cooperation with Greyhound and Alberta health authorities to ensure that all 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 10:30am, about 15 minutes behind schedule. The person boarded the bus at Lethbridge itself. 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 1:30pm, 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 both buses may be at some risk of exposure. As passenger records are incomplete (not all 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 BC who were on these buses may call HealthLink BC at 811, or their local health unit, to determine whether they need to be tested and for more information.
Persons in Alberta who were on these buses can call Health Link Alberta at 1-866-408-5465, or their local public health care provider.
There is 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.
Infection and illness from tuberculosis occur relatively slowly compared to many other infectious diseases. This allows a longer period of time to trace those who may have been exposed, when compared to other diseases (such as measles). Those who have had significant exposures can be tested and, if found to be infected, treated to prevent illness.
Tuberculosis is spread through the air, but the disease is usually only transmitted when there is close, prolonged exposure to an infected person. Sharing clothing, dishes or drinks does not spread the disease. Tuberculosis can appear gradually, with symptoms including fever, ongoing cough with or without sputum, loss of appetite/weight loss, night sweats or chills. Any individual with symptoms possibly consistent with tuberculosis should see a physician for assessment and possible skin testing.
More information on tuberculosis is available at:
