Tuberculosis

Reporting tuberculosis to Public Health

Latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis disease are reportable to the medical officer of health under the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act. Patient consent is not needed for reporting this information.

  • Report suspected or confirmed cases of active tuberculosis disease

    To report suspected or confirmed cases of active tuberculosis disease:

    • Call Niagara Region Public Health Infectious Disease Program at 905-688-8248 ext. 7330 within one working day

    Advise patients with potential pulmonary tuberculosis to self-isolate until initial smear results are available.

  • Report a positive tuberculin skin test

    The positive tuberculin skin test must be reported by the trained health care professional reading the test.

    To report a positive tuberculin skin test, you can either:

  • Follow-up to the positive tuberculin skin test report
    • Every positive tuberculin skin test reported to the Infectious Disease Program is investigated to confirm latent tuberculosis infection
    • A public health nurse will educate the patient about tuberculosis and review the optional treatment of latent tuberculosis infection
    • If patients choose to get treatment for latent tuberculosis infection, fax a prescription to the Public Health Infectious Disease Program at 905-682-6470
    • Medications to treat tuberculosis are given to patients by a public health nurse once a prescription is received from the health care provider

Statistics in Niagara

Tuberculosis surveillance data

Contact

Call the Infectious Disease Program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7330 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

Ordering tuberculosis medication

Order free medications for treating tuberculosis (latent tuberculosis infection or active tuberculosis) by calling the Infectious Disease Program at 905-688-8248 ext. 7330 or fax a prescription to 905-682-6470.

When faxing in a prescription, include the purpose and duration of treatment.

Tuberculosis diagnostic and treatment services for Uninsured Persons Program (TB-UP)

Tuberculosis diagnostic and treatment services for uninsured persons is a Ministry of Health program. The program aims to facilitate the early diagnosis of tuberculosis and initiation of treatment (as required) for uninsured persons living in or visiting Ontario who are not covered by Ontario Health Insurance Plan, Interim Federal Health or any other health insurance plan.

The program consists of processing payments to clinicians, laboratories and radiology service providers for treating uninsured persons.

  • Eligibility

    Patients who are not covered by any public / private medical health insurance for tuberculosis services and one of the following:

    • An active or potential case of tuberculosis (pulmonary or extra-pulmonary)
    • A contact of an active tuberculosis case
  • Registration for Tuberculosis Diagnostic and Treatment Services for Uninsured Persons Program

    Contact the Infectious Disease Program at 905-688-8248 ext. 7330 for registration information before giving service to eligible patients of the program.

    The Ministry of Health will not issue retroactive payments for persons who receive tuberculosis diagnostic and / or treatment services before registering in the program unless proper approval has been granted by the Ministry of Health.

Tuberculosis medical surveillance

As a requirement of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, all individuals planning to live, work or stay in Canada for a period of six months or more must undergo an Immigration Medical Exam. If the Immigration Medical Exam shows the individual to be at high risk for developing active tuberculosis, they are required to complete ongoing medical surveillance.

Patients who are completing medical surveillance for tuberculosis will be provided a Tuberculosis Assessment Form to be completed by the health care provider and sent back to Niagara Region Public Health. We will notify Immigration once the patient's requirements for medical surveillance are met.

Tuberculin skin testing

Tuberculin skin tests are publicly funded for individuals in Ontario who meet the eligibility criteria. Individuals who need a test for school, volunteering or employment should consult with their health care provider or go to a local walk-in clinic.

Criteria for publicly funded tuberculin skin test (Tubersol)

  • People who have been in contact with someone with infectious tuberculosis, including contact with an active case or those who live / work in a high-risk environment
  • Tests deemed to be "medically necessary" by the client's primary care provider or nurse practitioner. This is based on the level of risk found in the Canadian Tuberculosis Standards 8th Edition.
  • Required by an educational institution for admission or to continue in a daycare or preschool program, or a program of study in a school, community college, university or other educational institution
  • Individuals under the age of 65 who are entering long-term care facilities. Screening through a tuberculin skin test is not recommended for those over the age of 65.

To order Tubersol, complete our vaccine order form. Tubersol is not to be used for patients who do not meet the criteria for a publicly funded tuberculin skin test. Learn more about ordering vaccines.

Resources

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