Canada will have difficulty meeting the World Health Organization’s goal of wiping out tuberculosis in wealthy countries, say health officials. The United Nations organization wants rich countries which have low rates of infection to reduce them and set the example for poorer countries of Africa and Asia where the lung disease still affects many.
Infections rates are low in Canada but still a cause of concern. TB is most prevalent among immigrants arriving from countries where there is a high incidence of disease, and among aboriginal populations, especially in the northern territory of Nunavut. The territory’s acting chief medical officer of health blames overcrowded housing, high rates of smoking, and poor nutrition.
The Canadian government announced a new approach to fighting TB four months ago with special attention to immigrants and aboriginal peoples.
Canada may be a victim of its own success in reducing the incidence of TB. A leading director of infection prevention suggests that as the rates go down, there is less interest in funding TB control programs.
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