Tuberculosis cases detected at Bordeaux Prison

The entrance to Bordeaux jail is seen Wednesday, May 6, 2020 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

Two cases of tuberculosis have been detected at Bordeaux Prison, also known as the Montreal Detention Centre, since the start of summer, according to exclusive reporting by Noovo Info.

Montreal Public Health told CTV News that the first case of tuberculosis was reported at the beginning of May.

"Following an assessment of the situation, the duration of exposure and physical characteristics of the prison environment, we recommended screening for significant contacts on-site for inmates and staff and also contacted those who had left the facility," Montreal Public Health spokesperson Jean-Nicolas Aubé said in a statement.

A second case of active tuberculosis was reported in July.

"As with the first case, screening for significant contacts was offered according to usual protocols and guidelines."

Additionally, Aubé said the situation is "under control" and "no significant increase in tuberculosis cases" in the prison is expected.

According to information obtained by Noovo Info, one of the sick inmates developed complications and had to be transferred to the hospital.

Prison nurses are also concerned they may have been infected.

A memo obtained last week by Noovo Info stated correctional officers refused to admit an inmate from the area where an infection had been identified because of the danger of tuberculosis to the officers.

The memo stated that future inmates are now required to be screened for tuberculosis-like symptoms.

Public health noted that a few hundred inmates and staff have also been screened for latent tuberculosis.

"The screenings identified some cases of latent tuberculosis, indicating that these individuals may have been exposed to the bacteria at some point in their lives," Aubé said.

Latent tuberculosis is a dormant form of the infection. It is not contagious and does not cause symptoms or health impacts, but it can sometimes lead to active disease months or even years later.

"It is difficult to establish a direct link between a specific case of latent tuberculosis and the time spent in this particular facility," Aubé added.

In an e-mail to Noovo Info, a public relations officer from the Public Security Ministry confirmed that a public health crew had visited the Bordeaux prison to "raise awareness among inmates and offer them screening."

However, it could not provide precise data on the test results "for reasons of security and confidentiality."

Symptoms of active tuberculosis include a cough that lasts two to three weeks with or without phlegm or blood, fever, night sweats, chest pain and weight loss.

It is a contagious illness that spreads through the air when a person breathes, speaks, or coughs. To contract the disease, people generally need to spend more than 100 to 120 hours in the same place as the infected person.

Tuberculosis can be cured by taking antibiotics. 

- With reporting from Véronique Dubé and Émile Bérubé-Lupien of Noovo Info