Tuberculosis (TB) cases are increasing across Quebec, with Montreal seeing one of the sharpest rises. In a recent news report, Faiz Ahmad Khan, highlighted a 54% jump in Montreal’s TB rate in 2024 compared with long-term historical averages, calling it “a reversal of progress.”
Provincially, reported TB cases reached 516 in 2025, well above pre-pandemic levels, with the highest numbers in Montreal and Nunavik. While TB is not highly contagious, it can cause serious, lasting health effects if not detected and treated early. Symptoms may include a prolonged cough, fever, night sweats, fatigue, and weight loss. Treatment typically requires several months of antibiotics, and most patients recover when therapy is followed as prescribed.
Dr. Ahmad Khan emphasizes that the resurgence of TB reflects structural gaps in prevention, detection, and access to care, particularly affecting people facing migration challenges, housing insecurity, or limited insurance coverage. He notes that universal, fully funded TB care is both more equitable and more cost-effective than responding to outbreaks after they occur.
As Dr. Ahmad Khan puts it, “Montreal is really where global tuberculosis meets local realities.” His clinical leadership and research underscore why sustained investment in TB services matters, for vulnerable populations and for public health across Quebec.
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Tuberculosis cases rising in Montreal and other regions of Quebec. CTV News. by Daniel J. Rowe. January 17, 2026