Tuberculosis in Canada: Infographic (2022)

From: Public Health Agency of Canada

1,971 active tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported in Canada in 2022. The corresponding incidence was 5.1 active TB cases per 100,000 population.

In Canada, active TB disease trends have remained stable for over 20 years.

The incidence of active TB from 2002 to 2022 is outlined in this table:

Drug susceptibility:

• 90.4% of TB isolates were sensitive to first-line TB drugs.
• 9.6% were resistant to at least one first-line TB drug:
  • 7.9% mono-resistant
  • 0.3% poly-resistant
  • 1.4% multi-drug resistant
  • 0.0% extensively drug resistant

Deaths due to TB in 2021:

• TB was the underlying or contributing cause of death for 5.7% of those with TB.

The key to achieving TB elimination is to reduce the disproportionate impact on Indigenous Peoples (in particular, Inuit) and people born outside of Canada.

The incidence of active TB (per 100,000 population):

• Inuit = 136.7
• First Nations = 21.4
• People born outside of Canada = 14.4
• Métis = 2.0
• Non-Indigenous Canadian-born = 0.3

Proportion of cases:

• People born outside of Canada represented 74.5% of active TB cases but made up 26% of the Canadian population^{Footnote *}.

Epidemiology of TB in Inuit:

• The incidence of active TB by age group is provided in the following table (total cases = 100):

• Contact investigation was a more common method of case finding among Inuit, in part due to differences in TB transmission dynamics:

Epidemiology of TB in people born outside of Canada:

• The incidence of active TB by age group is provided in the following table (total cases = 1,258):

• Among people with active TB who were born outside of Canada, 81% were born in high burden TB countries^{Footnote **}.
• Among people with active TB who were born outside of Canada, over 1 in 6 were diagnosed with active TB within 2 years after arrival to Canada.

Together, we can eliminate this preventable and curable disease in Canada by:

• Sustaining and harnessing collaborative multi-sectoral action, led and driven by communities.
• Improving diagnosis and treatment of active TB disease and infection.
• Addressing social determinants and health inequities, including ending stigma and discrimination.

Data Sources:

• Canadian Tuberculosis Reporting System (CTBRS)
• Canadian Tuberculosis Laboratory Surveillance System (CTBLSS)

Latest version: March 2024