Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium, which is spread when someone with the disease coughs and another person breathes the bacteria. TB usually attacks the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes.

The person's immune system may kill the TB bacteria. The bacteria can remain alive but inactive in the body if the immune system doesn't kill the bacteria. This is called TB infection. A person with TB infection is not sick and cannot spread TB to others.

People with TB infection may progress to TB disease if their immune system weakens. A person with TB disease feels sick and may infect others. For more information on TB, refer to the Tuberculosis Facts.

Health Canada works with various stakeholders to reduce the incidence of TB in on-reserve First Nation communities, where TB rates remain higher than the overall Canadian rates.

The Government of Canada, being aware of the disproportionate burden of TB among Aboriginal peoples, remains committed to supporting and working with communities, provincial and territorial health care systems, scientific experts and all TB partners to assist in the reduction of TB by developing scientific, evidence-based advice regarding TB prevention and control in Canada's Aboriginal populations.

Health Canada's mandate is to provide health services in on-reserve First Nation communities South of the 60° parallel. In addition, Health Canada currently provides funding for the TB prevention and control program in Nunatsiavut in Labrador. The three northern territories are responsible for all health program service delivery, including TB prevention and control, for all territorial residents, including First Nations and Inuit.

The Public Health Agency of Canada, through its  Tuberculosis Prevention and Control program, is the federal lead in taking action to reduce the incidence rate of TB in Canada to 3.6 per 100,000 by 2015.

Are First Nation people more at risk?

A significant reduction in TB rates among First Nation on-reserve and Inuit communities has been achieved over the past 30 years. The rates, however, remain much higher than among the non-Aboriginal population born in Canada.

Studies have shown that First Nation people are more at risk than other Canadians of getting TB infection. Some of the root causes are related to poor socio-economic conditions where they live.

TB is more likely to occur in communities where people live in overcrowded housing and in remote areas, where access to health professionals is limited. Some First Nation communities are more vulnerable to outbreaks of a number of infectious diseases, such as the TB epidemic that occurred in the early 20^th century.

Tuberculosis in First Nation Communities

The Tuberculosis in First Nations Communities page describes a period in the history of First Nation people when death rates due to TB reached 700 per 100,000. In addition, this section provides a comparison of current First Nations and national TB rates, and explains some of the risk factors.

For more information on how the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada helps ensure that TB is controlled and prevented, refer to the Tuberculosis in First Nations Communities, 1999 report. This report is currently being updated as part of the First Nations and Inuit Health strategy renewal and will be available in 2011.

National Tuberculosis Elimination Strategy

The Public Health Agency of Canada, through its  Tuberculosis Prevention and Control program, is the federal lead in taking action to reduce the incidence rate of TB in Canada to 3.6 per 100,000 by 2015.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is responsible for the overall management of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control in Canada. It is currently in the process of completing The Canadian Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Strategy, due to be completed later in 2011. This national prevention and control programme includes central coordination, monitoring and evaluation, with each province and territory being responsible for developing and implementing control plans that are consistent with Canadian guidelines and protocols. The First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada is currently involved in renewing the First Nations component of the Canadian Tuberculosis Strategy.

Through the Canadian Tuberculosis Committee, the Government of Canada remains committed to supporting and working with communities, provincial and territorial health care systems, scientific experts and all TB partners to assist in the reduction of TB by developing scientific, evidence-based advice regarding TB prevention and control in Canada's Aboriginal populations. The Government of Canada has also collaborated with the Global Indigenous Stop TB Initiative in its effort to reduce the burden that TB has on Aboriginal peoples in Canada and around the world.

TB can be cured with antibiotics, and therefore controlled and prevented. The First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada contributes to this goal through its National Tuberculosis Elimination Strategy utilized in on-reserve First Nation and Inuit communities. Health Canada is renewing its National Tuberculosis Elimination Strategy with its federal partners, external TB experts, stakeholders and First Nation and Inuit partners, as well as various health authorities and communities. This renewal is to be completed in 2011.

Additional Resources

• Diseases and Conditions - Tuberculosis
• It's Your Health - Tuberculosis Fact Sheet
•  Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Tuberculosis in Canadian Health Care Facilities and Other Institutional Settings
•  Tuberculosis Prevention and Control
•  Risk and Prevention of Tuberculosis in Travellers
•  Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Fact Sheets