Scarborough has a population at “high risk” for tuberculosis, but the disease can be treated, cured and prevented from spreading here, say staff from The Scarborough Hospital and Toronto Public Health.

Both are presenting facts, in a presentation next Friday, Oct. 5, on TB and challenges newcomers may face in stopping the transmission of chronic illnesses.

Around 95 per cent of people with TB in Toronto were born outside of Canada, and one third of the city’s TB cases are in Scarborough, Dr. Elizabeth Rea of TPH said in a release.

“Many of our community members come from countries where TB is a common infection,” added Dr. Reena Lovinsky, the hospital’s medical director of infection prevention and control.

“The Scarborough Hospital works closely with Toronto Public Health and other community partners to diagnose, treat and cure patients with TB.”

The Oct. 5 information session will be in both English and Mandarin at the Centre for Information and Community Services, 2330 Midland Ave. south of Hwy. 401, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.