Who is at risk for TB in Canada?

Anyone who has come in contact with a person who has infectious TB disease may be at risk for TB. To get TB infection, however, a person usually spends many hours every day with the person who has infectious TB disease. People who live in overcrowded housing with poor air circulation may be more at risk of getting TB infection. A person may also be at higher risk because of where they were born, their ethnic origin or where they live or work.

Canadians who are at higher risk of being infected with TB include the following:

• people born in or travelling to countries where TB is common
• people with an Aboriginal background
• homeless people
• alcoholics
• people who work or live in a prison or jail
• people over 65 years of age
• people who work with any of the above high-risk groups (i.e., health care workers)

If you think you have been close to a person with infectious TB disease, you should have a TB skin test. This will tell you if you have TB infection.

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