November 13, 2025
EDMONTON — Primary Care Alberta’s (PCA’s) tuberculosis (TB) program and the Edmonton Zone Medical Officers of Health have declared an outbreak of active infectious TB in Edmonton’s inner-city.
This decision was made in October after lab testing confirmed two people with TB who reside in the inner-city were infected with the same TB strain, suggesting recent local transmission.
In 2025 to date there have been 12 cases identified of TB with connections to Edmonton’s inner-city and people experiencing houselessness, a significant increase over previous years. Only three of these individuals are confirmed to have infection with the same strain of TB and considered a part of the outbreak.
TB is a preventable and curable infectious disease which primarily affects the lungs, but can also impact other parts of the body. It spreads through the air via coughing, sneezing, or spitting and can be treated with antibiotics.
As part of the outbreak response, PCA and Medical Officers of Health with Primary and Preventative Health Services are meeting regularly with inner-city agencies and organizations to share information, provide support and carry out assessments and screening for those identified as having close contact.
This outbreak is not considered a risk to the general public at this time. Contact tracing is being carried out and all exposed individuals will be contacted by PCA, notified of the exposure and the screening required as part of routine follow-up. Only those individuals contacted directly by PCA are considered exposed.
Specific case details will not be shared, so as to protect patient privacy.
Anyone with questions or concerns can contact the Edmonton TB clinic at 780-407-4550.
Primary Care Alberta is a made-in-Alberta solution to improve access to the primary care services Albertans rely on.
By delivering coordinated services, Primary Care Alberta enables healthcare providers to do what they do best -- care for Albertans. We meet Albertans wherever they live, work, play and learn, promoting prevention, supporting lifelong health journeys, and serving as a vital entry point to a complex network of care.
Together, we are creating a future where compassionate, timely and effective healthcare is available to every Albertan at every stage of life.
