Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

NUNAVUT
Nunavut is seeing fewer cases of tuberculosis this year than last year and almost all the cases are in the Baffin Region.

As of Oct. 25, 62 cases of TB were diagnosed in the territory since Jan. 1 with 98 per cent of the cases in the Baffin Region, stated Health and Social Services Minister Tagak Curley in the legislature on Oct. 28.

Elaine Randell, a communicable disease consultant with the Government of Nunavut, said the Baffin Region has historically seen higher rates of TB. This, in turn, continues the cycle of outbreak - a cycle broken by finding the people infected and getting them treated, she added.

"When you get continued number of cases each year, it creates a pool of infection," she said. "With each person who develops TB, they infect other people so the cycle continues."

Randell wouldn't name which communities are most affected so they do not become "stigmatized," she added, but four or five communities have many of the cases.

Last year, Nunavut experienced 101 cases of TB. If this year's trend continues, Randell said they project the territory will see about 75 cases next year, but a few years of data are needed to determine if the number of cases are on a downward trend.

"It's still too early to say whether or not that trend will continue because, when you have a small population, rates can fluctuate widely just with one or two cases spreading," said Randell.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.