Tuberculosis Outbreak Reported in Natuashish

The Mushuau Innu First Nation and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services have confirmed an outbreak of tuberculosis in the community of Natuashish. Health officials say they are actively conducting contact tracing and providing access to testing to identify new cases and reduce the spread of the disease.

Tuberculosis, a bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs, spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, talks, laughs, or sings. It often requires close and prolonged exposure to transmit. Symptoms can include a persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss, though it is possible to carry TB without showing any signs of illness.

Treatment is available locally and is important both to protect the health of affected individuals and to prevent further transmission. Community members experiencing symptoms are urged to contact the local clinic promptly and to limit close contact with others until assessed. Anyone notified as a contact of a TB case should follow up quickly for testing.

Public Health also notes there is currently no elevated risk from routine activities, but encourages ongoing respiratory precautions: washing hands regularly, covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when ill, and avoiding sharing smoking devices.