2nd tuberculosis case diagnosed in Cape Breton

A second person in Cape Breton has been diagnosed withactive tuberculosis.

Lesley Mulcahy, a spokesperson forNova Scotia Health Authority, saidthe latest case is linked to one diagnosed in late 2017.

"They are not separate cases," she said. "One likely contracted from the other."

Tuberculosis is contagious and is transmitted through the air. It generally affects the lungs and was a leading cause of death in the early 20th century.

Infectionusually requires prolonged, close contact with an infected person.

The health authority saidthe risk toothers who were in contact with the two Cape Breton tuberculosispatients is low.

However, theagencyis following upwith people who may have been exposed to tuberculosisduring anin-patient stay at the Cape Breton Regional Hospitalwhile visiting a patientor during a medical appointment during a three-day period inSeptember.

Still testing

CBC first reported on Jan.27that, as a precaution, about 80 staff at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital were tested for exposure to tuberculosis after the first patient was diagnosed.

None of them were sick or showed symptoms.

The province's interim medical officer of health, Dr. Eilish Cleary, saidit's expected that"a couple of hundred" people may be tested before the investigation is complete.

Those people would have been incertain units of the regionalhospital betweenSept.22and25.

If someone tests positive, he or she will begintaking a combination of antibiotics for up to a year. Cleary said treatment is usually successful if apatient takes the medication as prescribed.

It's not uncommon to see cases of tuberculosis in Nova Scotia, Clearysaid, with between two and 10 cases reported everyyear.