Ontario Public Health Officials Seeking Windsor Bus Passengers
Passenger With Infectious TB Travelled To Windsor From Toronto on August 31
October 2, 2008
NEWS
Ontario public health officials are trying to locate 27 passengers who travelled on a bus to Windsor with a passenger who has infectious tuberculosis (TB). The infectious form of TB is a lung infection which can be passed on to other people by coughing in close contact.
The passenger with TB was travelling on Greyhound trip #0367 which left Toronto at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 31 with 33 passengers bound for Detroit. The bus made a stop in London at 2:35 p.m. where nine more passengers boarded. The bus stopped in Windsor at 5:05 p.m. where 27 people got off the bus.
Public health officials are trying to identify these 27 people so they can be contacted and advised of the need to be tested for tuberculosis.
Ministry officials were made aware of the passenger when the individual was detained at the Windsor/Detroit border by American customs officials. The remaining 15 passengers are being looked after by public health officials in the U.S. and Ontario.
With the assistance of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and a quarantine officer, the infected passenger was kept in Windsor under the Federal Quarantine Act to ensure there was no further exposure to the public and that the infected passenger received treatment for TB.
Passengers who were on Greyhound trip #0367 on August 31 should contact their local public health unit or phone 1-866-532-3161.
QUOTES
“If you were one of the 27 people who got off a Greyhound bus in Windsor on August 31 at 5:05 p.m., we ask you to contact your local public health unit who will give you direction on what to do,” said Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. “The risk is low but we want to make sure everyone who was potentially exposed is properly notified and evaluated as needed.”
LEARN MORE
Contact your local public health unit
For public inquires call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only)
Members of the media :
Mark Nesbitt, 416-314-6197
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health-news