Iqaluit (Mar 31/03) - Six communities in Nunavut have sporadic or active cases of tuberculosis and more will be infected if something isn't done soon, said Health Minister Ed Picco.

Between 2001 and 2002 there were a total of 65 cases of TB reported in the territory. Picco delivered the bad news to the legislative assembly last Monday in preparation for World TB Day.

"I'm not trying to be an alarmist," said Picco.

He said the Nunavut government put an extra $350,000 into its health budget over a year ago to add resources to TB testing in the territory. The funding is being used to hire staff to conduct extensive testing of children up to Grade 6.

Targeting that age group will allow the government to identify infections early, said Picco.

One position has yet to be filled in the Kivalliq region, although it is currently being advertised.

Testing for TB was at one point a mandatory program funded by the federal government but the program was withdrawn during the 1980s.

"In the South we have seen tuberculosis actually level off and in most cases decline. In Nunavut we have seen rates increase," said Picco.

Baker Lake MLA Glenn McLean said he was not impressed that the territory was once again forced to "pick up the slack" left behind by the federal government.

"It does not surprise me that the federal government would withdraw funding to Nunavut or not pay for a program for Nunavummiut because we are in the middle of nowhere," he said.

"I think somebody should advise the federal government on their odd trip up here that it is a contagious disease, it is deadly and if the rates are 14 times higher here, eventually, (increased) rates are going to move down towards where they are."

TB is spread through the air and is usually passed between individuals who are in close contact on a regular basis, like family members and co-workers.

Advanced TB can cause serious damage to lungs and ultimately lead to death.

Treatment with medication, however, has proven effective in treating the disease.