Nova Scotia Health confirms case of tuberculosis at child-care centre

Nova Scotia Health has confirmed a case of tuberculosis at a child-care centre in its central zone, which includes Halifax, Eastern Shore and Windsor-West Hants.

The health authority would not disclose what facility was affected, citing privacy reasons. It did send a letter to families and staff of that child-care centre informing them of the case and said their risk of exposure is considered low. That letter was then widely shared on social media.

Nova Scotia Health told CBC News it has investigated five to 17 cases of tuberculosis per year over the past five years.

"It's probably one of the most common infections worldwide," Dr. Ryan Sommers, the senior regional medical officer of health for the central zone, told CBC's Information Morning Halifax on Thursday. "One in three people on the Earth have been infected with tuberculosis in the past."

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that often affects the lungs and can be spread through the air by a person with the illness coughing or sneezing. But unlike other infections like COVID-19 or measles, Sommers said prolonged and repeated exposures are needed to become infected with tuberculosis. He said the people most at risk would be those living with the infected person.

Nova Scotia Health said it was assessing the risk of transmission for all children and staff at the child-care centre. It said it would contact families of children and staff members who have been identified as needing further testing to make appointments. It said the risk level of those who haven't been contacted by Public Health is considered "extremely low."

"Although the risk of transmission is low, if a child or staff member develops symptoms such as new or prolonged cough (two to three weeks), fever, night sweats, swollen lymph glands, severe headache, confusion, drowsiness or weight loss/failure to gain weight appropriately, you should seek medical care and alert the healthcare provider that you may have recently been exposed to TB," said the letter the health authority sent to families.

Nova Scotia Health said tuberculosis is a preventable, treatable and curable illness.

Sommers said there have been no other cases stemming from the child-care centre.

In an email to CBC News, the health authority said there's no risk of tuberculosis to the general public, therefore "there is no need for a public notification directly related to this case."

Sommers said while a tuberculosis vaccination is available, it's usually reserved for people who are considered at a higher risk. He said Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization doesn't recommend a universal vaccine program for tuberculosis because the number of cases is too low.