New figures showing that the rate of
tuberculosis (TB) in Birmingham Hall Green is five the national average have
been described as “deeply concerning” by local MP Roger Godsiff.
Although often considered to have been
eliminated, TB remains the world’s second deadliest infectious disease, killing
1.3 million people in 2012. The disease doesn’t only affect the developing
world: the UK has the highest rates of TB in Western Europe.
The national average for the UK is 13.9 cases
per 100,000 of the population. The rate in Birmingham Hall Green is 72.4 per
100,000.
Roger stated that the figures are of
particular concern given that a small, but growing, proportion of cases are
drug-resistant. Cases of drug-resistant TB can take two years to treat,
requiring patients to take an average of 14,000 pills and costing local health
services tens of thousands of pounds.
Roger wants to ensure that people are aware of
the risk of TB and of some of the symptoms, which can include: a persistent
cough, night sweats, a high temperature and a lack of appetite or weight loss.
“Most people in the UK think that TB is a
disease of the past, but the number of cases of the disease in the UK has
doubled in the last decade”, Roger said. “It’s important that people are aware
of the threat posed by the disease, and that they make sure they go to a doctor
if they experience symptoms.”
Public Health England is currently developing
a national strategy to fight TB, but it is also important to reach out to the
most vulnerable parts of the community and make sure that everyone understands
the importance of diagnosing and treating the disease as early as possible.
The Birmingham health authority has a rate of
37.6 TB cases per 100,000. In comparison London’s average is 42, Public Health
England’s definition of a high risk area stands at 40, and the UK average is
13.9 cases per 100,000.
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