Tuberculosis Prevention and Control

About Us

Mission Statement
Through leadership and collaboration with our partners, Tuberculosis Prevention and Control is taking action to reduce the incidence rate of tuberculosis in Canada to 3.6 per 100,000 by 2015. This goal supports the target set in the Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-2015 to reduce the burden of the disease by 50 per cent compared to the 1990 rate. Achieving this goal will require a 3.5 per cent annual reduction in the incidence rate.

In response to the global epidemic and the changing epidemiology of TB in Canada, Tuberculosis Prevention and Control (TBPC) has strengthened its leadership role in TB policy and program initiatives through the co-ordination of several key activities:

Surveillance of TB Disease in Canada
Each year, data on reported cases from all provinces and territories are collected, analyzed and interpreted. Valuable epidemiological information is then widely disseminated to enhance TB prevention and control efforts throughout the country.

Surveillance of TB Drug Resistance in Canada
The global emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of TB is a serious threat to TB prevention and control efforts. Although drug-resistant TB has not yet been identified as a major problem in Canada, the potential exists due to the increase in and ease of international travel. In response to this potential threat, TBPC, in collaboration with participating laboratories across Canada, provides timely reports on drug resistance among tested laboratory isolates.

Correctional Service Canada Tuberculosis Tracking System
Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Correctional Service Canada and Health Canada's Workplace Health and Public Safety Programme have developed a surveillance system to collect and analyze data on tuberculosis infection and disease in persons living and working in Canadian federal correctional facilities. TBPC also provides guidelines, training and consultation for the prevention and control of TB in correctional settings.

Canadian Tuberculosis Standards
A joint publication of the Canadian Lung Association/Canadian Thoracic Society and Tuberculosis Prevention and Control of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Tuberculosis Standards is the definitive prevention and control guidelines for Canada. This publication draws upon current Canadian epidemiological, microbiological, respiratory, infectious disease and public health expertise in tuberculosis. Written especially for the non-specialist physician and public health nurse, this document is available on-line, or in paper format from Lung Association offices.

Canadian Tuberculosis Committee (CTC)
The CTC and its Aboriginal TB Scientific, Immigration, Metropolitan TB Issues and Surveillance Subcommittees have membership from all provinces, territories, federal departments involved with TB prevention and control, relevant cities and various non-governmental health organizations. These committees coordinate and enhance TB prevention and control activities in Canada by developing recommendations and advisory committee statements for use by members.

International Collaboration
When individuals with active TB visit or move to another country, TBPC collaborates with its international partners to ensure continuity of treatment in that other jurisdiction.  Similarly, when persons who live in another country are reported in Canada to be  contacts of a person with infectious TB, TBPC and other international TB programs collaborate to facilitate the appropriate medical assessment for those individuals.

Travel -Related Risk Assessment and Response
TBPC works with its partners at the international, federal and provincial/territorial levels to prevent travel on commercial transportation by persons with infectious TB.  When these situations do occur, TBPC works with these same partners to facilitate the appropriate medical assessment for individuals who were seated near the TB case.      

Technical Assistance and Training
TBPC assists provinces and territories upon request in the public health management of contacts of TB cases and in responding to outbreaks.

Targeted Research
TBPC is involved in focused research activities both independently and in partnership with academic colleagues, within and outside of the Public Health Agency of Canada.