Tuberculosis diagnosed in Hopedale resident

Health officials said Tuesday that another case of tuberculosis in the Labrador-Grenfell region has been diagnosed, although they cautioned that it is likely not connected to other recent cases.

• Tuberculosis case at St. Anthony hospital undiagnosed for 5 weeks

Labrador-Grenfell Health said the patient is a resident of Hopedale, and is "presently undergoing treatment."

The authority did not reveal the gender or age of the patient.

"At this point in the investigation, it appears that this diagnosis is not related to the recent cases of TB in Labrador or St. Anthony," the authority said in a statement.

Health officials are tracing people who may have had what is called "close contact" with the patient. The authority said such people "have had regular, prolonged contact with a person who tests positive for TB."

Dr. David Allison, Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer of health, said officials want to ensure close contacts are safe.

"As a result of a review of the case history of the patient, we believe there is a low risk of others contracting TB through contact with the individual; however, we wish to assure the public that we will be diligent in our investigation and in our process of contact tracing," Allison said in a statement released by Labrador-Grenfell Health.