May 2007

Update as of May 31, 6:30 p.m.

PHAC has identified all of the 28 passengers who sat within two rows of the individual and their contact information has been referred to the appropriate public health authorities for follow up. Of the 28 passengers, 19 were Canadian residents (14 from Quebec and 5 from Ontario).  The remaining passengers are foreign residents, mainly from Europe.

Of the 28 passengers, PHAC was in contact with 19 of them through the toll-free line. 

The remaining 9 passengers were identified through the passenger manifest and customs cards.

Contact information for the remaining 163 passengers has been shared with the appropriate public health authorities.

Advisory

On May 25, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) was notified by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about a US citizen, recently diagnosed with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), who arrived in Montreal on a flight from Prague, Czech Republic, and then drove to the US via the Champlain, New York, border crossing.

The individual is now in contact with CDC officials and is in a U.S. hospital undergoing further evaluation.  The results of the assessments to date indicate that the individual’s level of infectiousness is low.

The likelihood of transmission to fellow passengers appears to be low at this time.  Although brief contact with an infectious individual poses little to no risk for transmission, PHAC is nonetheless releasing the flight number and a toll-free phone number so that passengers on this flight can receive the appropriate information for follow-up.

Czech Airlines flight # 0104 departed Prague on May 24th and arrived at Montreal International Airport the same day.  For passengers on this flight seeking more information, please call 1-866-225-0709.

PHAC is working with the US CDC and other public health authorities to first identify and locate the passengers who sat within two rows of the individual to recommend appropriate follow-up.  This approach is consistent with the WHO guidelines for TB contact tracing.

As an added precaution, PHAC is working with its provincial and territorial partners to identify and refer the remaining Canadian passengers to their local public health authority.  PHAC will also work with its international partners to refer the remaining passengers to their national health ministries.  

For more information on XDR-TB and TB in general, visit:

• CDC release
• TB fact sheet