Nunavik TB outbreak under control, say health officials

Quebec Health officials say a tuberculosis outbreak in Kangiqsualujjuaq this summer now appears to be under control.

The small Nunavik community had a dramatic spike in the number of active TB cases.

At its peak, there were 20 to 30 new active cases being reported each month but in the last month, there has been only one new confirmed case.

Health officials say research is needed to figure out what happened in Kangiqsualujjuaq.

"We would like to really understand in order for this not to re-occur in the same village," said Jean-Francois Proulx of the Nunavik public health department. "But as well, knowledge gained from this would hopefully prevent similar situations in northern villages."

Proulx said TB is a serious health issue in many Nunavik communities but officials have rarely seen such a sudden and dramatic spike in infection rates as happened in Kangiqsualujjuaq.

Proulx said there are many possible reasons including a more virulent strain of the bacteria, or something related to living conditions in the community.