3 Nunavut communities still have ongoing tuberculosis outbreaks
Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet and Naujaat still fighting outbreaks
Three Nunavut communities still have ongoing tuberculosis outbreaks — one of which started almost three years ago.
Pangnirtung's TB outbreak was declared in November 2021, and there have been 48 active cases in the community and 278 latent ones since.
The Nunavut government released an update on TB numbers in the three communities on Thursday.
In Pond Inlet, where an outbreak was declared in March 2023, there have been 12 cases of active TB and 106 latent cases.
In Naujaat, which saw an outbreak declared in May 2023, there have been 23 cases of active TB and 153 latent cases.
Latent TB is not contagious and is treated to prevent it from becoming active.
In its update, the Nunavut government said the majority of people with latent TB have undergone, or are undergoing, treatment. It said more than half of those with active TB are still undergoing treatment.
People with active TB symptoms, including a cough that lasts longer than three weeks, feeling very tired, loss of appetite and fever or night sweats, should go to their health centre for a screening, the update said.