Native Leaders Sound Alarm Over TB Cases

Native Leaders Sound Alarm Over TB Cases

Monday, October 02, 2006 at 14:49

First Nations leaders in Saskatchewan say they fear tuberculosis is making a comeback.

And they warn the disease will spike in other provinces if governments don’t address the underlying causes of the disease.

Guy Lonechild, acting chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, says the situation will get worse if problems like overcrowding aren’t dealt with.

Figures for 2005 show that although just three per cent of the province’s population lives in northern Saskatchewan, the region is home to 58 per cent of its tuberculosis cases.

As well, the rate of infection has jumped to 127 cases after a decade of gradual decline.

Lonechild says that should concern other regions across Canada, including northern Manitoba and northern Ontario, which have similar problems like overcrowding.

(courtesy of Broadcast News)