The investigation continues into what’s causing the serious lung infection blastomycosis to affect residents of the Constance Lake First Nation, west of Hearst. Three have died. In a letter to residents, Chief Ramona Sutherland confirmed 12 people under investigation and continued care, and nine probable cases of the infection. She says no patients have been transferred from Notre Dame Hospital in Hearst to other medical facilities in the north.
“Hearst hospital has been very quick to take care of our community members and have made arrangements if they had to be transferred out to other major centres,” she said.
Sutherland says Lecours Lumber located near the community is not to blame.
“We have at least 11 different spots that are points of interest for investigation so we are not blaming the lumber company in our area,” she said.