A Saskatchewan pediatrician confirms another tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in a remote northern Saskatchewan community.
Dr. Mahli Brindamour wasn’t able to indicate which northern community is under a current outbreak, but says it’s very concerning as she is part of a TB prevention program for northern communities.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of infectious cases compared to previous years,” said Dr. Brindamour.
“That led to increased investigations and finding more and more cases.”
An outbreak was declared this past fall in two northern Indigenous communities, Black Lake and Fond Du Lac, where there were fewer than seven index cases.
Dr. Brindamour said both the provincial and federal government need to work together to come up with solutions to help these northern communities fight against TB. She confirmed there have been two deaths due to TB and there have been cases of “extremely and severe devastating outcomes” and deaths have occurred during previous outbreaks.
TB usually affects, the lungs, causing coughing, but it can also affect other areas of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. Its symptoms can be similar to COVID-19.
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Brindamour said many children are currently falling ill because of the disease.
TB is caused by germs spreading from person to person through the air.
University of Saskatchewan, research scientist, Neeraj Dhar said people living in poverty, with poor social-health determinants and in overcrowded spaces due to lack of housing are primarily affected by the illness.
“In Saskatchewan, in the northern regions..almost 50 per cent of cases occur in the north, but the population is much lower there,” said Dhar.
“So, if you talk about case rates, its almost 10 times the provincial rate, and almost 20 times the national rate. The national rate is 4 to 5 cases per 100, 000,” he added.
In Saskatchewan, there are about eight cases of TB per 100, 000 people, according to Dhar.
Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu and Dr. Tom Wong, Chief Medical Officer of Public Health, provided an update on the federal government’s response to COVID-19 in a virtual news conference.
During the conference, Hajdu and Wong were asked about the TB situation residents in northern communities in Saskatchewan are facing.
Wong said they have been supporting the First Nations partners in northern Saskatchewan in order to mobilize prevention, diagnostic procedures and treatments.
“We are supporting the communities and health authorities with equipment in diagnosis including the use of rapid point of care tests for TB,” he said.
When questioned on housing as one of the social determinants for remote northern Indigenous communities that contribute to the spread of TB, Minister Hajdu stated Indigenous leaders have spoken on the need for suitable housing.
“I am extremely preoccupied with this,” she said.
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