Nunavik Inuit Face 1,000-Fold Higher Tuberculosis Rates
- Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal indicates that Inuit living in Nunavik, the Inuit lands in northern Quebec, experience tuberculosis (TB) rates 1,000 times greater than...
- The findings highlight a significant public health disparity, noting that underresourcing of local health care services contributes to the hardships faced by those battling the disease.
- The region has seen a steady increase in tuberculosis cases over the last several years.
Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal indicates that Inuit living in Nunavik, the Inuit lands in northern Quebec, experience tuberculosis (TB) rates 1,000 times greater than those of non-foreign-born Québécois. The study, led by a predominantly Indigenous research team and conducted in partnership with Nunavik Inuit, focused on assessing current experiences with tuberculosis care and gathering recommendations for effective disease eradication.
The findings highlight a significant public health disparity, noting that underresourcing of local health care services contributes to the hardships faced by those battling the disease. In some specific communities, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services (NRBHSS) has reported that the incidence of TB is as high as 10,000 times greater than among non-Indigenous, Canadian-born individuals.
Rising Case Numbers and Outbreaks
The region has seen a steady increase in tuberculosis cases over the last several years. By November 21, 2025, Nunavik reported 103 cases of TB, which surpassed the record-breaking total of 94 cases reported in 2024.
By December 10, 2025, the number of active cases rose further to 112. Jessika Huard, the tuberculosis elimination program manager at the NRBHSS, stated that this represents the highest reported level in recent history and places the region among those with one of the highest rates of tuberculosis in the world.
As of November 2025, seven communities in the region were experiencing outbreaks. The NRBHSS has declined to identify the specific affected communities due to privacy concerns.
Public Health Response and Screening
To curb the spread of the disease, health authorities have implemented mass screening initiatives. The Innuulitsivik Health Centre, which serves residents on the Hudson Bay coast, launched a mass screening program that included mobile clinics in Inukjuak from November 3 to November 28, 2025.
These efforts included:
- The establishment of screening clinics within workplaces and schools.
- Door-to-door information sessions regarding tuberculosis conducted throughout November 2025.
- The extension of clinic hours specifically for TB testing.
Felicia Potvin, a communications adviser for the Innuulitsivik Health Centre, stated that the screening in Inukjuak is intended to serve as a model for future initiatives in other communities to build healthier and more resilient regions across Nunavik.
Systemic Challenges and Resource Gaps
Health officials have warned that results from these interventions may not be immediate. Jessika Huard noted that the speed at which the disease spreads makes fast intervention difficult, particularly when appropriate resources are lacking.
While a tuberculosis action plan was presented earlier in 2025, the NRBHSS had not yet secured the necessary additional funding from the Quebec government as of December 2025. Huard indicated that while discussions with provincial and federal officials are ongoing, the health system alone cannot resolve the crisis.
Samuel Wat, CBC News
We need housing, infrastructure and other social services to all work together in order to fix this
The current strategy involves coordinating with various government departments to address the social determinants of health, such as housing and infrastructure, which are critical to stopping the spread of the disease across Inuit Nunangat.