Tuberculosis rates spike in northern Saskatchewan, NDP alleges government withheld case information

Saskatchewan is grappling with some of the highest tuberculosis rates in Canada, with infections concentrated in northern regions and disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities, where incidence levels far exceed the national average.

Citing documents showing 22 tuberculosis cases in the Prince Albert area over the past 14 months, the Saskatchewan NDP has accused the provincial government of withholding information about infections in the north.

What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs, though it can spread to other parts of the body. It is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, typically requiring prolonged exposure for infection to occur.

Common symptoms include a persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. While TB is preventable and curable, it requires a strict course of antibiotics, usually lasting six months, to eliminate the bacteria and prevent relapse or drug resistance fully.

According to CTV News, tuberculosis rates in northern Saskatchewan are 19 times the national average, according to the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA).

NDP MLA Keith Jorgenson said, “We want to make sure that the people in the affected communities know that there are active cases of TB.”

According to Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab, half of the recent tuberculosis cases in Prince Albert were linked to a shelter.

“For the general public, on a day-to-day basis, there’s no high risk of TB exposure,” Shahab said.

Limited access to healthcare, screening and treatment, along with poor housing and overcrowding, are contributing to higher tuberculosis rates in northern communities.

“The more contact tracing you do, the more cases you find,” Shahad said. “That way, you find cases before they become infectious, and when you treat them, you break the cycle of transmission.”