Potential Tuberculosis Exposure at the Arviat Daycare
Public Health Advisory
Potential Tuberculosis Exposure at the Arviat Daycare
The Chief Public Health Officer is advising the residents of Arviat that children attending the daycare may have been exposed to active TB at the daycare. Staff and children who have spent time at the daycare should be screened for tuberculosis.
A positive TB test usually means that an individual shared airspace with someone who has active TB. TB enters the body when someone breathes in the bacteria, which causes sleeping TB. The germs may be in the body but may not be enough to cause sickness or spread to others. If sleeping TB is not treated, it could lead to active TB. Longer and/or frequent exposure to someone with active TB could increase the risk of infection.
Daycare staff and children attending the daycare who have not been screened for TB this year are advised to contact the health centre. Symptoms of active TB include:
- a cough that lasts longer than three weeks.
- feeling very tired.
- loss of appetite.
- experiencing a fever or night sweats.
Anyone with these symptoms should go to the health centre as soon as possible. TB is a disease that can be treated without having to leave your community. If you have any questions, please contact your local health centre.
###
Media Contact:
Chris Puglia
Acting Manager of Communications
Department of Health
867-975-5949
@email