PORT ALBERNI, B.C. - Three cases of tuberculosis have been reported in Port Alberni, B.C. over the last month.
The Vancouver Island Health Authority says since May 2006, there have been a total of 33 TB cases in the region.
All patients have been treated and the authority says it's working hard to contain the current outbreak.
Dr. Lorna Medd with the agency said Monday community organizations will have to get a handle on deeper social issues if doctors are ever to control the disease.
"This is not just about an organism or a germ," she said. "This is about a social context".
"It's food, shelter, safety, the notion that somebody cares."
The agency said the newer cases were tackled quickly because of the strong efforts from the health authority and the Nuu-Chah-Nulth TB response teams.
But Medd said the disease continues to be concentrated in the First Nations population.
Most of those infected with TB are adults, she added.
The disease occurs when TB germs cause damage to the lungs or other body parts.
Symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, fever and night sweats.
Tuberculosis is rare among healthy people and is considered hard to catch.
It can be prevented and treated with antibiotics.
"The objective of treatment is to achieve a lifetime cure while preventing drug resistance," said Medd. "In this way, we find new TB infections before they develop active TB disease and infect others."
None of the cases in the Alberni Valley involves a drug-resistant form of TB.
