https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/tuberculosis-cooke-aquaculture-new-brunswick-1.6698783
Active TB case prompts mass testing at N.B. fish processing plant
Tuberculosis test results for 87 True North Salmon Company employees expected later this week
Public Health informed True North Salmon Company that an employee at its Blacks Harbour plant tested positive for active tuberculosis last Thursday, said Joel Richardson, spokesperson for Cooke Aquaculture, which owns True North Salmon.
Richardson said a team from Public Health was at the plant on Tuesday and Wednesday testing employees, with the results expected to come in starting Thursday.
"We're very grateful that all of our 87 employees have co-operated fully with Public Health to be screened for symptoms, and any employees who have been contacted for testing are required to complete testing this week before being permitted to resume work," he said.
Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is caused by the bacteria mycobacterium tuberculosis and is spread from person to person through the air, according to a New Brunswick Public Health fact sheet about the disease.
The bacteria are spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing and talking when in close, frequent and prolonged contact with someone who has active TB, according to Public Health.
Richardson said the employee had been off work sick for about two weeks prior to testing positive.
Cooke Aquaculture spokesperson Joel Richardson says 87 employees at a fish processing plant operated by a company subsidiary have been tested for tuberculosis and are awaiting results.
He said Public Health determined through contact tracing that the risk to other employees and to the wider community was "low," and therefore a notification for the region wasn't required.
Richardson said the employee is currently in hospital and is expected to recover.
CBC News has asked Public Health whether any more cases have been detected and whether any possible exposure sites were identified.
In an email, spokesperson Sean Hatchard said Public Health cannot comment on specifics, but that any exposed individuals are contacted directly.
"It is also common for Public Health to work closely with businesses and organizations who may have a confirmed case," he said.
He said general symptoms can include loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, fever, high sweats, prolonged cough and chest pain.
Source unclear
Richardson said Public Health officials told the company that the employee doesn't appear to have contracted tuberculosis from the community.
Richardson said the employee also didn't travel outside of the region in recent weeks.
Richardson said the only explanation for its source is that the employee had a latent case of TB, which only recently became active.
"Our understanding from talking to the medical officers is that some forms of tuberculosis can actually be dormant in individuals even if they've previously been vaccinated as children, and that's the case with this particular individual."
Not uncommon scenario, expert says
TB cases can either be "active" or "latent," said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist based out of the Toronto General Hospital.
A latent case occurs when the bacteria that causes TB enters someone's body, but their immune system effectively fights it off.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch says it's not uncommon for someone to have latent tuberculosis that turns into an active case later in life. (Submitted by Isaac Bogoch)
The bacteria, however, can remain dormant in the body for decades, and up to 10 per cent of the time will at some point turn into an active case, with the person exhibiting symptoms such as cough and fever.
"That's like the norm. That's what happens the vast majority of the time," Bogoch said.
"There's certain parts of the world where TB is much more common compared to Canada, and many people are exposed to this infection early in life and they developed what's called latent tuberculosis … and they don't know they have it."
While TB can bring about severe symptoms, Bogoch said the treatment options available in Canada are very effective.
"You have to start off usually on four different antibiotics — four different pills — and you treat for a minimum of six months to ensure that it's treated … and again, it's not that hard to treat if you know what you're doing."
Increasing mask usage
Richardson said employees were already required to wear masks while on the processing line.
However, with the confirmed case of TB, the company is currently requiring employees wear a mask as soon as they enter the plant.
Richardson said operations at the plant otherwise have not been affected.
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A “Will Not” Province? 3 Questions for CME’s Joel Richardson
FREDERICTON–Joel Richardson, vice president with the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) organization, raised eyebrows when he said New Brunswick has become not just a “have not” province, but a “will not” province.
We wanted to go deeper to understand why he calls New Brunswick a “will not” province, so we asked him three questions:
1) Why do you call New Brunswick a “will not” province?
Many people now consider New Brunswick a “will-not” province, although I recognize that not everyone likes to hear it. I’ve never been one to mince words, so I’m telling it like it is in the hopes that it helps us move forward. New Brunswick’s brand and economic status as a self-sufficient province has dropped in the last century from a “have-province” to a “have-not” province to a “will-not province”. Throughout our history we have been credited for being very inventive and industrious – and we took care of one another.
We’ve shifted to a society that relies heavily on Federal government transfer payment bailouts with over 40 per cent of our provincial governments budget now relying on money from other provinces just to help cover our essential services. That Federal money has relaxed our need to be innovative, motivated and hungry to accept new business development opportunities such as responsible resource development. Unemployment soaring over 20 per cent plus in some regions with over 40,000 residents out of work across NB. Housing construction starts are the lowest in 20 years below 1995 levels. New Brunswick youth have a much higher unemployment rate (17.5 per cent) than youth across Canada (14.3 per cent) and our child poverty rates are some of the highest in the country. Provincial government program expenditures are rapidly outpacing revenue.
Given our depressed economy and failing social standing, our political officials, community leaders and citizens have to stop winging decision making based on political opportunity and instead on science, economic and social benefit. It’s time New Brunswick graduated to a “have-province” again. We need to lift our province from the edge of chaos and our children out of poverty. Let’s boldly choose now to be part of the solution not the problem.
2) What attitudes need to change in the province?
People need to encourage and support entrepreneurs and companies who are willing to take significant risks in order to start or grow a business. We need to wrap our arms around goods and services exporters to support their growth and competitiveness so they can grow their sales and hire more people. Government doesn’t create jobs. Companies don’t create jobs. Demand from customers for products creates jobs.
We need to create more demand by strengthening global trade relationships and creating more awareness around our products. Given our small population, New Brunswicker’s need to develop an export mindset so that in the future, even the smallest New Brunswick business will be multinational. Helping companies realize increased export sales will: 1) create new direct & indirect jobs, 2) generate GNB tax and royalty revenue to help cover health, education and social services, and 3) help families.
3) How best do we create more economic activity, jobs and wealth in the province?
We need to manufacture our future. Let’s get moving and aim higher. We need to set return on investment goals to strive for – 1) Become the most trade-friendly partner in the world; 2) Be Canada’s most prosperous province; 3) Achieve an unemployment rate of 6 percent, and; 4) Be the preferred location for people to invest, manufacture, export from, employ and grow.
Here’s 6 actions New Brunswick must do to survive and thrive – 1) Double manufacturing and exporting output by 2030; 2) Invest in innovation and new product development,; 3) Develop skills and careers in manufacturing, technology and trades for youth, immigrants and our aboriginal communities; 4) Approve and begin major capital projects required to transport our energy, resources and manufactured goods to market; 5) Explore alternative energy solutions like natural gas and renewable technologies, and; 6) Ensure our business climate is globally competitive.
We can do this, we must do this so hope is restored. After all, it is our provincial motto – Spem Reduxit …“It has restored hope”.