Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/March 24, 2025
World TB Day, observed annually on March 24, amplifies the urgency of ending tuberculosis – the world’s deadliest infectious disease. South East Health Unit (SEHU, formerly Hastings Prince Edward Public Health) is encouraging residents to learn about tuberculosis (TB), which continues to devastate millions globally, inflicting severe health, social, and economic consequences.
This year’s theme for World TB Day is Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver, a bold call for hope, urgency, and accountability.
On the 143rd anniversary of Dr. Robert Koch’s discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen that causes TB, tuberculosis remains an epidemic in much of the world causing the deaths of several million people each year. While Canada’s rates of TB are relatively low, there were still 2,217 cases of TB reported in Canada in 2023,with TB disproportionately impacting Inuit, First Nations, and foreign-born individuals living in Canada. Individuals affected by TB can experience isolation, stigma and long-term physical consequences.
TB is a respiratory disease that can be spread through the air when a person with active disease in their lungs or airways coughs, sneezes or talks. Exposure to TB can also result in latent TB infection (LTBI) – those with LTBI do not have symptoms and cannot spread TB to others. TB is preventable, treatable and curable with antibiotics.
At SEHU, our infectious and communicable diseases teams provide care to clients with latent TB infection, active TB infection, and those undergoing TB immigration medical surveillance through various services:
- A monthly TB clinic where clients without a health-care provider are seen by a respirologist.
- Free treatment for those interested in being cured of LTBI.
- Education and counselling for those living with LTBI, who are not interested in treatment, including what to do if symptoms develop.
- Facilitating follow-up for clients who require TB immigration medical surveillance (a requirement of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), for individuals at higher risk of developing active TB.
- Rapid response to identified active TB cases in our region, including free, timely treatment and support through directly observed therapy (DOT) to cure the disease and minimize the risk of transmission to others.
- Investigations to identify contacts of individuals with active TB, to ensure individuals who have been exposed receive appropriate testing and follow up with a respirologist.
For more information see the Tuberculosis Fact Sheet.
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Media Contact:
Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
hyland.maureen@hpeph.ca
Sara Hart, Communications Specialist
hart.sar@hpeph.ca
The South East Health Unit (formerly Hastings Prince Edward Public Health) is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee people.
We invite community partners and residents to share this Media Release with their respective networks.
