Health officials in Alberta are warning that some people may have been exposed to a confirmed case of tuberculosis in the Edmonton region.
Alberta Health Services says it has sent letters to 51 individuals about possible exposure at two Edmonton-area schools.
"When we do identify a confirmed case of tuberculosis, we do contact tracing so people who might also be at risk of contracting disease due to the contact they've had with that initial case," said Dr. Chris Sikora, medical officer of health for the Edmonton region.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease spread by coughing, he said.
"It can be spread person to person although not very easily but because it can be a serious infection, early detection is the hallmark of what we need to do to control spread," he said.
Edmonton Catholic Schools has confirmed the schools are part of the Catholic district, but would not name them.
The letters include information on arrangements for standard TB screening and treatment if required.
The health agency says the general public is not at risk.
Only those who receive the letters are considered to have been exposed.
AHS says the risk of transmission is low, however, and the confirmed case does not present any ongoing risk at either school.
