Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to person through the air. It usually affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys or the spine. Tuberculosis is preventable and curable. Tuberculosis is also known as TB.

 How does a person get tuberculosis?

When a person with TB disease in his/her lungs coughs or sneezes, the TB bacteria are released into the air. Another person can then breathe the TB bacteria into his/her lungs. A person who breathes in the TB bacteria can become infected. This is called TB infection.

TB infection is also known as Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI). When a person has TB infection, the TB bacteria have entered the body, but they are not growing and are dormant, or latent. With TB infection, a person does not feel sick and cannot give the TB bacteria to other people. A person with TB infection may develop TB disease in the future.
Can I be tested for TB infection?

A tuberculin skin test is the most common test for TB infection. Anyone with a positive skin test should have a chest x-ray and medical assessment to rule out TB disease.  
Is there a treatment for TB infection?

Your health care provider may recommend medicine to prevent you from developing TB disease. Isoniazid (INH) is the medicine that is most often used, usually for 9 months. The medications are provided to you free of charge.
How does a person develop TB disease?

A person develops TB disease when his/her immune system cannot stop the TB bacteria from growing. This happens when a person is sick, stressed, not eating well or has other illnesses such as cancer, diabetes or HIV/AIDS. With TB disease, the bacteria are growing, the person feels sick and the bacteria can be spread to other people.
What are the symptoms of TB disease?

A person with TB disease may have the following symptoms:

  • Cough
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Night sweats
  • Weight loss
How do I know if I have TB disease?
Only a health care provider can tell if you have TB disease. A chest x-ray and sputum samples will help show if you have the disease in your lungs. Other tests may be necessary to find out if TB disease is in other parts of the body. 
How is TB disease treated?
TB disease can be treated and cured. Treatment usually involves taking antibiotics for at least 6 months. These antibiotics must be taken every day to make sure that the person does not get sicker and to prevent the TB bacteria from becoming stronger or resistant to the medication.
Is the medication safe?

Yes. Only a few people have side effects. Your health care provider and public health nurse will talk to you about possible side effects of the medication. Regular blood tests are needed to check for side effects. Tell your health care provider if you do not feel well while you are taking your TB medicine. The medications are provided to you free of charge.

What is the role of Ottawa Public Health?

Ottawa Public Health is involved with all people who have TB disease. A Public Health Nurse (PHN) will help with the TB medications, medical appointments and support during the TB treatment. A PHN will also arrange for testing contacts (family, friends or others) who have been exposed to someone with infectious TB disease.

Tuberculosis Medical Surveillance

When you apply to live, work or study in Canada for more than 6 months, you may be required to complete an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) prior to coming to Canada. If the results of your IME show that you have latent tuberculosis (TB) infection or have had TB in the past, you will need to see a healthcare provider for a medical assessment once you arrive in Canada. This is called TB medical surveillance. TB medical surveillance is required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to rule out TB of the lungs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I report to Ottawa Public Health?
  • Call 613-580-2424 ext. 24224 and leave a voicemail with your full name and unique client identifier (UCI) number. The UCI number can be found on your immigration documents.
  • Leaving a voicemail will meet the reporting requirements by IRCC. You will not receive a call back from a Public Health Nurse.
  • Ottawa Public Health will send you a package of documents in the mail which can take several weeks.
How do I complete the medical assessment? 
  • You can complete the medical assessment through your healthcare provider if you have one. If you do not have a healthcare provider, you can visit a walk-in clinic. Visit the Public Health Ontario web page: Find a doctor or nurse practitioner to find a healthcare provider.
  • Bring all of the documents you received in the mail from Ottawa Public Health including all of your immigration documents from IRCC to the medical assessment.
  • The healthcare provider will assess you for symptoms of TB and ask you to complete a chest x-ray.
  • The healthcare provider may also recommend treatment for latent TB infection. Treatment for LTBI is free and does not impact or delay your immigration status.
  • After the medical assessment is complete, ask the healthcare provider to complete and fax the Medical Surveillance Reporting Form to OPH at 613-580-9640.
How much does the medical assessment cost?
  • The medical assessment is covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Other insurance plans such as those provided through a University or College should also cover the assessment. You can wait until you receive your OHIP card to complete the medical assessment.
  • If you have private health insurance, you will need to confirm with the insurance company if the assessment is covered through your policy.
  • If you do not have health insurance coverage, you will have to pay for the cost of the TB medical surveillance assessment. 
What happens if I move within Canada or leave Canada? 
  • If you move within Canada, you must contact the Public Health Liaison Unit at IRCC.MHBSurveillance-SurveillanceDGMS.IRCC@cic.gc.ca. Make sure you provide your full name and unique client identifier (UCI) number in your email. The UCI number can be found on your immigration documents.
  • If you leave Canada before you complete the medical assessment for TB medical surveillance, the condition of entry will remain on your immigration file. You may be asked about medical surveillance if you re-enter Canada.
What happens if I do not complete medical surveillance?
  • IRCC will be advised that you are in non-compliance with medical surveillance. This may impact any current or new immigration applications to Canada.
What happens if I develop symptoms of TB?
  • Symptoms of TB include; a cough lasting more than 3 weeks, weight loss, ongoing fevers
  • See a healthcare provider and call 613-580-2424 ext. 24224. Leave your full name, unique client identifier (UCI) number and details about your symptoms.
  • A public health nurse will call you back and arrange an assessment by a TB specialist.

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