TB scare at TTPost

The TT Postal Corporation (TTPost) yesterday said medical tests will be conducted on members of staff who were exposed to a worker in the mail sorting room at its head office at Golden Grove Road, Piarco, who had contracted Tuberculosis (TB). TTPost issued a media release yesterday assuring that management had implemented all the advice provided by medical specialists and continued to monitor the situation closely to minimise the risk to staff.  However, it made no comment on the Public Services Association (PSA) demand for workers to be evacuated.

First vice president of the PSA Stephen Thomas told Newsday the union heard about the worker’s illness last Tuesday. He said the Ministry of Health was notified by the PSA about the incident. Thomas said he spoke with Health Minister John Rahael and appealed for the Ministry to take “urgent steps for corrective action.” He expressed concern about the contagious nature of the disease and said the PSA wanted workers in the mail sorting room evacuated, and testing for the staff and other workers who visited the area. Thomas said the disease must not be treated lightly since workers’ families can be also exposed to TB.  TTPost managing director Chris Abley said the company received a medical report last week advising that one of its employees had been diagnosed with TB and admitted to the hospital.

The company immediately sought advice from the Caura Chest Unit on the actions required for health and safety of staff who may have been in contact with the person concerned. The release provided no details about the worker. Abley said based on advice from a team from Caura, an information session took place at the National Mail Centre for all employees who worked in close contact with the worker and may have been at risk. “Information provided indicates that TB infection is passed from person to person only where there is close personal contact for periods of three to four hours or more.”