Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, I talked about TB, and my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: currently, how many known cases of TB are there in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of 2016, we have two active cases of TB and one pending. We have two confirmed and one possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, my second question is: what active steps is the Department of Health and Social Services taking in 201617 to prevent tuberculosis and reduce new infections in the NWT?
Mr. Speaker, the TB rates in the Northwest Territories are declining. Over the last ten years in the Northwest Territories we have seen a yearly average of about ten TB cases. In the last two years, we've actually seen lower numbers than that, four or five. Regardless, we are focused on having no TB here, in the Northwest Territories, and we've got to do that by ensuring that a hundred per cent of the people diagnosed with TB are cured. Identifying and treating those who are infected but don't have symptoms, often referred to as latent TB, is necessary to continue to reduce rates here, in the Northwest Territories. The department does have resources for TB surveillance and screening that are targeted at highrisk groups and includes efforts to identify and treat those with latent TB. Our community healthy living fairs are one of our tools that we're using. It's an attempt at bringing health and wellness promotion to the smallest communities. They do talk about TB during those events. These are a valuable opportunity to do just that, to talk about TB, encourage people to get screened. If they are screened, then we can take the next steps to treat. There are a number of different things we're doing. If somebody is diagnosed or identified with TB, we do contact screening with them. We talk, have a conversation with them, figure out who they've been in touch with, and we follow up with every one of those individuals in order to confirm and test to make sure that they don't have latent TB and they haven't been exposed.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week there was some social media brought up, the case of tuberculosis in Tuktoyaktuk, which caused a big scare in the community, and there has been a few concerned residents which they have contacted myself to just basically more get an education of what happens next when someone who think they may have been in contact with someone that has tuberculosis. Mr. Speaker, my final question is: what should someone do if they think they have been in contact with someone with TB? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, if someone feels that they have come into contact with somebody with active TB, they should get in touch with their healthcare provider. Individuals should follow the instructions of their healthcare providers, which may include testing and/or the requirement for them to take medication if they're latent. The Chief Public Health Officer confirms that causes of infectious TB is one of the conditions that is tracked here in the Northwest Territories. We monitor everybody that has TB and we'll take steps to follow up with everybody that has come into contact with anybody who does have active TB. Again, go to the doctor. Go to your health centre. Talk to the individual. Get screened. If you're prescribed medication, take it to conclusion as one of the best ways to stop the spread of TB.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
