"the disease remains a serious public health issue"
Health chiefs have issued a warning as a “medieval disease” is on the rise in the UK.
More people are seeking medical treatment for tuberculosis (TB), which can leave patients coughing up blood.
TB, referred to as a “medieval disease” due to it being prevalent in the 19th century, is raising concerns.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, tuberculosis cases rose 11% towards the end of 2023. There were close to 5,000 individuals diagnosed with the condition.
The highest rates of tuberculosis were registered in London, with 18.7 infected per 100,000 people.
The rest of the country saw rates of around 8.5 notifications per 100,000.
While there was an increase among UK-born citizens, four out of five cases were in patients born outside the UK. The most common countries are India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Romania.
Health officials are now warning people with potential TB symptoms to seek medical help and not to avoid the symptoms.
Symptoms include a continuous cough that lasts more than three weeks, night sweats, a loss of appetite, and a high temperature.
The symptoms are similar to those experienced with the flu or Covid-19, leading many people to dismiss them as less serious.
It can be treated with antibiotics but can turn serious if not treated for a prolonged period.
Dr Esther Robinson, Head of the TB Unit at UKHSA, said:
“TB is curable and preventable, but the disease remains a serious public health issue in England.”
Nurse specialist Ryan explains more about the symptoms of #tuberculosis also known as #TB pic.twitter.com/iSyayd5UCc
— SWB NHS Trust (@SWBHnhs) December 4, 2024
Dr Robinson also stressed:
“If you have moved to England from a country where TB is more common, please be aware of the symptoms of TB so you can get promptly tested and treated through your GP surgery.
“Not every persistent cough, along with a fever, is caused by flu or Covid-19.”
“A cough that usually has mucus and lasts longer than 3 weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including TB.
“Please speak to your GP if you think you could be at risk.”
The UKHSA highlighted that TB is now the leading cause of death linked to a single infection in the world.
TB most frequently attacks the lungs, where it becomes infectious. However, it may also be present in other parts of the body.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that 10.8 million people were ill with the disease in 2023.
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