Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease caused by bacteria that usually affects the lungs but can also be found in other parts of the body. When the bacteria is making you sick it’s called active TB disease. People can be infected and not be sick, this is called latent TB infection. The latent TB can become active TB at any time and make you very sick. If you have latent TB, there’s treatment available to reduce your risk of developing active TB.

Tuberculosis can be spread when a person with active TB in their lungs coughs or sneezes into the air and has close, prolonged contact with other people. However active TB can be treated and cured with medicine that kills TB bacteria. Medications for active and latent TB are available free from public health.

Support for people with active TB

Directly observed therapy is a program where a Peel Public Health staff member meets with you a few times a week to watch you take your TB antibiotics and support you through your treatment. A public health nurse will call you to arrange a visit to give you information about TB and to introduce you to your staff member.

Diagnostic and treatment services if you don’t have health insurance

Help is available to cover the cost of out-patient services to diagnose and treat tuberculosis for anyone in Ontario without health insurance. You must register for this program through Peel Public Health.

To get more information about TB diagnostic and treatment services if you don’t have health insurance, call 905-799-7700, Caledon 905-584-2216, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Medical surveillance

Medical surveillance depends on the results of your immigration medical examination, which may have been a requirement for your immigration application process. If the results of your IME indicated you have inactive tuberculosis, you will need a medical check-up with a physician once you arrive in Canada.

Medical surveillance ensures that proper treatment can be provided, which in turn helps protect the health and safety of people in Canada. Inactive tuberculosis is the only medical condition for which medical surveillance is currently required.

If you live in Peel and have been placed on medical surveillance, you must call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700, Caledon 905-584-2216, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

We will give you a package of documents to complete your medical surveillance while living in Peel Region. You will need to take this medical surveillance letter and form to your doctor. On average, the entire process takes 6 months to 1 year to complete.

Learn about medical surveillance

If you have questions about why you were placed on medical surveillance, contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.