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Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/natuashish-tb-outbreak-9.7130868
Tuberculosis outbreak in Natuashish presents low community spread risk, NLHS says
Increase in reported active cases warranted outbreak designation
Alex Kennedy · CBC News · Posted: Mar 16, 2026 3:58 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services says a declared tuberculosis outbreak in the Labrador community of Natuashish is actively being monitored, but the risk of further impact to residents remains low.
"Things, you know, can change of course with an outbreak. But we'd consider risk of transmission, kind of at large in the community, lower," Dr. Mark McKelvie, a medical officer of health with the health authority in St. John's, told CBC News Monday.
The outbreak was declared on Friday afternoon by N.L. Health Services and the Mushuau Innu First Nation.
McKelvie couldn't speak to how many residents are affected, citing privacy concerns, but said an increase in the number of active tuberculosis cases has been watched over the last couple of weeks — to the point where an outbreak declaration was warranted.
"We're looking for an increase in cases — so more than we'd expect, right? And then the second part is, is there transmission that's driving this increase in cases linked to each other? … When we see more cases than we'd expect, and we see potential transmission occurring, that's when we consider an outbreak," he said...
Tuberculosis outbreak in Natuashish presents low community spread risk, NLHS says
Increase in reported active cases warranted outbreak designation
Alex Kennedy · CBC News · Posted: Mar 16, 2026 3:58 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services says a declared tuberculosis outbreak in the Labrador community of Natuashish is actively being monitored, but the risk of further impact to residents remains low.
"Things, you know, can change of course with an outbreak. But we'd consider risk of transmission, kind of at large in the community, lower," Dr. Mark McKelvie, a medical officer of health with the health authority in St. John's, told CBC News Monday.
The outbreak was declared on Friday afternoon by N.L. Health Services and the Mushuau Innu First Nation.
McKelvie couldn't speak to how many residents are affected, citing privacy concerns, but said an increase in the number of active tuberculosis cases has been watched over the last couple of weeks — to the point where an outbreak declaration was warranted.
"We're looking for an increase in cases — so more than we'd expect, right? And then the second part is, is there transmission that's driving this increase in cases linked to each other? … When we see more cases than we'd expect, and we see potential transmission occurring, that's when we consider an outbreak," he said...