The chief in Jean Marie River, N.W.T., says her community is in the midst of a serious outbreak of respiratory illness.
Melanie Menacho is the Chief of Tthets’éhk’edélî First Nation in Jean Marie River.
She told CBC said that they don’t know yet what illness is going around, but it’s spread to “about half” of households in the community of around 70 people in only two weeks.
“There’s a lot of people that’s coughing. It’s kind of like a respiratory thing. It just kind of attacks your lungs,” she said.
Menacho herself is recovering from the illness right now. She said that for a week, she was having difficulty breathing, and struggled to get out of bed. She is still experiencing fatigue and weakness, and a serious cough.
“It’s very scary,” she said.
Menacho said the band office was closed in Jean Marie River on Friday in an effort to limit the spread of the illness. They are also asking residents to limit visiting each other if possible, and check up on ill friends and family by phone instead of in person.
She said the band council will meet remotely on Monday to decide whether it’s safe to reopen the office.
No health workers in community
Menacho is also calling on the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority to send doctors into Jean Marie River to diagnose and care for community members.
There is no health worker with medical training in Jean Marie River, and community members usually drive to Fort Simpson, more than 120 kilometres away, to see a nurse.
Menacho told CBC she’s been in contact with Nehendah MLA Shane Thompson about the outbreak and the need for medical staff to visit.
Thompson confirmed to CBC that he spoke with Menacho about the illness in the community, and that he has also spoken to several other community members who have similar concerns.
He said he has been in contact with N.W.T. Health Minister Lesa Semmler, and has been advocating for the Northwest Territories health authority to send staff into the community to diagnose and care for those who are ill.
Thompson said Semmler told him the health authority is working to provide help, but as of Saturday afternoon, he had heard nothing from the health authority about whether they will send staff.
CBC has reached out to the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, but did not get a response before publication.