Nunavut, Canada - Tuberculosis outbreak 2022-2024

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Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north...2022-1.6664531

Latest data from Nunavut shows more tuberculosis cases in Pangnirtung
Two more active cases, 21 more latent cases detected in past 3 months
CBC News · Posted: Nov 25, 2022 1:38 PM CT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

New numbers from Nunavut's health department show that two more people have been diagnosed with active tuberculosis in Pangnirtung in the past three months, while 21 more were diagnosed with latent tuberculosis.

The outbreak of the disease in the hamlet of about 1,500 people continues to grow, the department said in a news release Friday afternoon.

The territory declared the outbreak one year ago today.

Since January 2021, a total of 37 people in Pangnirtung have been diagnosed with active tuberculosis, meaning it can spread from person-to-person through the air.

In that same time frame, 147 people have been diagnosed with latent tuberculosis, which isn't contagious, according to Nunavut's health department, but still needs to be treated to stop it from becoming active...

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In Canada's Far North, the tuberculosis outbreak has not weakened for more than a year

Radio Canada
Published onTuesday, February 28, 2023 at 1:15 PM- Updated Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 2:11 PM

Nunavut health authorities say they are still working to put an end to the tuberculosis outbreak that has plagued Pangnirtung for nearly a year and a half. Since its last quarterly update in November, the Ministry of Health reports 2 new active cases and 20 new latent cases of tuberculosis.

Latent tuberculosis means that the disease is not contagious as long as the patient is on drug treatment. If the disease becomes active and symptoms of cough, fatigue, fever or loss of appetite appear, the relatives of the infected person are at risk of contracting the disease in turn.

The authorities therefore ask people who have been exposed to tuberculosis or who show symptoms to go immediately to a health center.

Several dozen cases in a few months

The outbreak initially started on November 25, 2021 in this community of approximately 1500 people.

"Since the outbreak was declared, the regional [health] branch has expanded its local TB team by deploying additional nurses, directly observed therapy officers and basic x-ray technicians," said Chris Puglia, a spokesperson for the territorial health department in an email exchange.

The person in charge counts, depending on the time of year and the resources available, two to three public health nurses, one to two nursing assistants, three therapy officers in observation and up to three radiology technicians.

“We are satisfied with the services provided to us. We are kept informed through meetings held every other Friday,” Pangnirtung Mayor Eric Lawlor said in an email.

He adds that additional resources should also be offered later in the year.

“We plan to set up another community-wide testing clinic this fall. The [against] TB team will move into our community hall again from October to the end of November,” he adds.

Since January 2021, 39 residents of Pangnirtung have been diagnosed with active tuberculosis, and latent tuberculosis infection has been detected in another 167 people, according to the Ministry of Health. It did not say whether other communities in the territory also had latent and active cases.

A long-standing scourge

On November 21, the Government of Nunavut and the Inuit organization Nunavut Tunngavik (NTI) signed an agreement to share information on the incidence rate of active and latent tuberculosis at the territorial, regional and community levels.

Nunavut's Information and Privacy Commissioner also said in a report released in February 2022 that it was in the public interest for the government to share statistics or demographic groups affected by the disease.

Tuberculosis is a long-standing problem in Nunavut. For several decades, the territory has had the highest rate of tuberculosis in Canada, and every community in the territory screens for the disease.

In 2018, the federal government made a commitment to eliminate tuberculosis in Nunavut by 2030.

https://www.rcinet.ca/regard-sur-arctique/2023/02/28/dans-le-grand-nord-canadien-leclosion-de-tuberculose-ne-faiblit-pas-depuis-plus-dun-an/

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Tuberculosis Outbreak in Pond Inlet

17 March 2023

Public Health Advisory
Tuberculosis Outbreak in Pond Inlet

The Chief Public Health Officer of Nunavut is advising the residents of Pond Inlet that due to a recent increase in the number of active tuberculosis (TB) cases in the community, the Department of Health is declaring an outbreak of tuberculosis.

Currently, there are five active cases of TB and 22 cases of latent (or sleeping) TB in Pond Inlet. The growing number of cases suggests that enhanced public health follow-up is necessary.

Community members who have been exposed to an active TB case, or who have TB symptoms, should visit the health centre for screening. The following are symptoms of active TB:

• A cough that lasts longer than three weeks.
• Feeling very tired.
• Loss of appetite.
• Having a fever or experiencing night sweats.

Anyone with these symptoms should go to the health centre as soon as possible for screening. TB is a treatable disease with medications available within your community. If you have any questions, please contact your local health centre.

The Department of Health will continue to provide support and resources to the community to ensure access to adequate testing, education, treatment and support.

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https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/news/tuberculosis-outbreak-pond-inlet

[Mary Wilson]

Tuberculosis outbreak declared in third Nunavut hamlet

Published May 16, 2023 2:47 p.m. CDT
The Canadian Press

Nunavut's Department of Health has declared a tuberculosis outbreak in a third community.

The department says there are six cases of active tuberculosis and 10 cases of latent tuberculosis in Naujaat, which is home to about 1,200 people.

It says the growing number of cases suggests enhanced public health followup is needed.

The territory previously declared a tuberculosis outbreak in Pond Inlet in March. ...

As of late February, 39 people in the community had been diagnosed with active tuberculosis and 167 with latent tuberculosis.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/tuberc...7Bcampaignname %7D%7D%3Atwitterpost%E2%80%8B&taid=6463f38cdb8e2c0 001edb9e9&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Cont ent&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

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Tuberculosis outbreak in Naujaat

16 May 2023

Public Health Advisory
Tuberculosis outbreak in Naujaat

The Chief Public Health Officer of Nunavut is advising the residents of Naujaat that due to a recent increase in the number of active tuberculosis (TB) cases in the community, the Department of Health is declaring an outbreak of tuberculosis.

Currently, there are six active cases of TB and 10 cases of latent (or sleeping) TB in Naujaat. The growing number of cases suggests that enhanced public health follow-up is necessary.

Community members who have been exposed to an active TB case, or who have TB symptoms, should visit the health centre for screening. The following are symptoms of active TB:

• A cough that lasts longer than three weeks.
• Feeling very tired.
• Loss of appetite.
• Having a fever or experiencing night sweats.

Anyone with these symptoms should go to the health centre as soon as possible for screening. It is important to get tested, receive treatment and take your medications as directed by your health care provider. TB is treatable and can be cured with medications available within your community. If you have any questions, please contact your local health centre.

The Department of Health will continue to provide support and resources to the community to ensure access to adequate testing, education, treatment and support.

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Media Contact:

Danarae Sommerville
A/ Manager of Communications
Department of Health
867-975-5949
dsommerville1@gov.nu.ca

https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/news/tuberculosis-outbreak-naujaat

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north...reak-1.6850092

Nunavut asks federal gov't for help handling tuberculosis outbreaks
Most infections of tuberculosis can be treated at home
CBC News · Posted: May 22, 2023 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 hours ago

Nunavut's chief public health officer, Dr. Sean Wachtel, says he will be requesting federal aid to help deal with the territory's tuberculosis outbreak.

On Tuesday, the territorial government declared an outbreak in Naujaat, following earlier outbreaks in Pond Inlet and Pangnirtung.

Wachtel is asking for more public health nurses to come to the communities...

...Currently there are six active cases in the community and 12 cases of latent, or sleeping, TB. In terms of where they are with the outbreak, it may help to clarify how we decide to declare an outbreak and why we do that.

With TB being widespread in the territory, we are used to seeing cases pop up from time to time in different locations. That's the nature of a widespread, or endemic, disease and we monitor those cases over a period of time. If we see a level of cases above the expected case rate that existed over the last little while, we then consider that a cluster...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north...eaks-1.7018256

Tuberculosis numbers climb steadily in 2 Nunavut communities with outbreaks
Pond Inlet and Naujaat still dealing with disease
CBC News · Posted: Nov 03, 2023 4:35 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

The number of people who have tuberculosis continues to rise in two Nunavut communities that have outbreaks of the disease.

The Nunavut Department of Health declared an outbreak in Pond Inlet last March, and in Naujaat last May. The communities join Pangnirtung on the list of Nunavut communities grappling with outbreaks.

Ten people in Pond Inlet, a north Baffin community of about 1,550 people, have now been diagnosed with active tuberculosis since the outbreak began in March, the territorial health department said in a Friday news release. Ninety-eight have been diagnosed with latent TB.

Those numbers are up from five active cases and 22 latent cases in March.

In Naujaat, a community of about 1,000, 14 people have been diagnosed since January with active TB and 63 with latent TB.

Those numbers are up from six active and 10 latent cases that were recorded at the time the outbreak was declared...

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An increase in tuberculosis cases in Naujaat, Nunavut

Published onThursday April 11, 2024 at 3:50 p.m.- Updated Friday April 12, 2024 at 09:25

An increase in tuberculosis cases in Naujaat is prompting the government to organize a testing clinic for the entire Nunavut community.

The Department of Health, in partnership with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., is organizing the screening session from April 15 until the end of May.

The government maintains that it is particularly important that all members of the community participate in this screening in order to slow the progression of the disease.

The screening session will be held in the building in the hamlet of Naujaat. Residents will be contacted in turn, by household, to organize screening.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the community of Naujaat for working with health officials, a partnership that is enabling the community to improve its outcomes,” said Health Minister John Main.

Early detection is essential to eliminating tuberculosis from our communities.
– John Main, Nunavut Minister of Health

The screening process will be done in two phases. The first includes a questionnaire, a tuberculosis screening test and a chest x-ray. Then, additional tests may include saliva samples or a blood test.

For the moment, the Ministry of Health has not officially declared an epidemic in the hamlet of 1,200 inhabitants. The number of officially listed cases has not been released at this time.

An epidemic last year

Just under a year ago, in May 2023, an outbreak was declared by the Nunavut Department of Health.

In total, six active cases of tuberculosis had been recorded there. Ten cases of latent tuberculosis, that is to say when the disease is not yet contagious, but must nevertheless be treated, were also discovered there.

Tuberculosis is a serious illness. Young children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. Symptoms to watch out for include persistent cough, extreme fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, or night sweats.

Last fall, a similar clinic was organized in Pangnirtung where 70% of the 1,500 residents were tested, according to figures published in December 2023.

In 2018, Ottawa and the national organization Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) announced a plan to cut the rate of active tuberculosis infection in half in the country's Inuit communities by 2025 and eradicate the disease from here 2030.

https://www.rcinet.ca/regard-sur-arctique/2024/04/11/une-augmentation-des-cas-de-tuberculose-a-naujaat-au-nunavut/

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Tuberculosis outbreak in Nunavut: screening campaign begins in Naujaat

Mathieu Massé
Published onMonday April 15, 2024 at 4:50 p.m.- Updated Tuesday April 16, 2024 at 09:33

With around twenty cases of active tuberculosis and around a hundred other latent tuberculosis in Naujaat, the Nunavut Department of Health took the decision to organize massive screening in the hamlet in order to slow the progression of the disease. The mobile clinic was set up there on Monday.

“There could be many more cases without us knowing it, without there being any symptoms,” says Nunavut's deputy medical officer of health, Dr. Ekua Agyemang.

A year ago, in May 2023, the territory declared that a tuberculosis epidemic was underway in the community of Naujaat. “From this moment on, we are increasing investigations to find out who the infected people have been in contact with. When we have good reason to believe that someone may have been infected, we begin preventive treatment,” says Dr. Agyemang.

According to Mayor Kevin Tegumiar, the Municipality has been campaigning for a screening clinic to be held for several months. “Without data, it’s difficult to know where we stand. The clinic will help us to have a better reading [of the situation],” he says.

He adds that three residents have died from tuberculosis since the start of the epidemic on May 16, 2023, which the Ministry of Health confirmed in an interview with CBC.

With the number of cases being sufficiently high since the start of the year, the decision was made to carry out global screening in Naujaat.

Two doctors and four nurses are on site. “We also have X-ray technicians, interpreters and several community members on our team who help coordinate all of this,” says Dr. Ekua Agyemang.

She is confident that this strong team will do a good job.

Tuberculosis is a serious illness. Young children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. Symptoms to watch out for include persistent cough, extreme fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, or night sweats.

Two other epidemics

Meanwhile, outbreaks are still ongoing in Pond Inlet and Pangnirtung.

The latter held a screening clinic during the fall, which allowed approximately 70% of the population to be tested.

“Certainly there is still work to be done. But at this stage, the community of Pangnirtung is doing well,” assures the assistant medical officer of health.

Eradicating disease, a problem of trust

In 2018, Ottawa and the national organization Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) announced a plan to cut the rate of active tuberculosis infection in half in the country's Inuit communities by 2025 and eradicate the disease from here 2030.

As to whether the federal government is doing enough to achieve this goal, Dr. Agyemang says yes. According to her, with current means, it would be possible to fight tuberculosis effectively.

She mentions that from province to province, and in comparison with the territories, the situation is very different. In Nunavut, the fact that some communities are so remote makes the fight against the disease very complicated.

On the other hand, she believes that the problem comes from further afield. “There’s the whole context of underlying colonialism that makes people nervous. Not so long ago, sick people were sent to sanatoriums in the south against their will. Today, some people may have symptoms and know that they may be infected, but they are afraid of what will happen to them because of this trauma. So they stay at home.”

In Naujaat, the hamlet has around 1200 inhabitants. Public health hopes to test the entire community by the end of May.

https://www.rcinet.ca/regard-sur-arctique/2024/04/15/epidemie-de-tuberculose-au-nunavut-la-campagne-de-depistage-commence-a-naujaat/