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Publication of Tuberculosis Figures for 2009

4 November 2010

Today’s (Thursday) publication of the Health Protection Agency’s TB report reveals that cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the UK reached 9,040 in 2009 - the highest number in the UK for nearly 30 years.

 


In March 2010, the Health Protection Agency Yorkshire and the Humber announced an 11% rise in cases when provisional figures for 2009 were released to mark World TB Day. The publication of today's national figures confirms this rise.

Dr Stephen Morton, Regional Director for HPA Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "The confirmation of this sharp rise in cases in our region is a concern, particularly as cases of TB within Yorkshire and the Humber had been decreasing steadily since 2006.

"The figures serve as an important reality check that TB is sadly not a disease of the past and our efforts to control this disease must be strengthened."

TB disease is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can affect many parts of the body but usually affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) and is curable with a course of special antibiotics. TB infection is spread from person to person when someone coughs or sneezes. However, close and prolonged contact with someone with active lung TB is needed to be at risk of being infected. Whilst TB is both preventable and curable, it can cause serious illness if prompt diagnosis and treatment are not given.

Dr Okereke, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control and TB lead for HPA Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "The key to reducing levels of TB is early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. These figures indicate that more individuals in our region are being identified for TB treatment and so this is encouraging. However, efforts to improve early diagnosis and control the spread of this infection must remain a priority and be increased in areas where prevalence is high. It is important that health commissioners in these areas prioritise the delivery of appropriate clinical and public health services.

She added: "Both health professionals and the general public alike must remain vigilant if we are to eradicate this major global infection. People need to be aware of the main symptoms of TB, which include a fever and night sweats; a persistent cough; weight loss; and blood in your sputum (phlegm or spit). If you experience two or three of these symptoms for a period of more than three weeks, you should go to your GP."

In 2009, HPA Yorkshire and the Humber held a TB conference for health professionals focusing on the prevention, management and control of the disease within the region. Further workshops were held earlier this year (2010).

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Both health professionals and the general public should be aware of the following key, simple facts about TB:

  • TB is curable. It is usually treated with a six-month course of antibiotics, which MUST be completed in order to discourage recurrence of disease or drug resistance.
  • Other symptoms include: lack of appetite, fatigue and a general sense of feeling unwell.
  • It is unusual to catch TB simply by sitting next to an infected person, for example on the train. The infection normally requires prolonged and close contact in order to spread from person to person.
  • Less than half of cases in the UK have the infectious form of the disease and most cases present little or no risk to others. Most people who come into contact with TB bacteria will not be infected. Of those who are infected, many will be able to fight the bacteria to stop them from developing TB disease.
  • People with latent (inactive) TB infection have no symptoms, don't feel ill and cannot spread TB to others. Most people who have latent TB infection will never develop active TB disease as the TB bacteria may remain inactive for a lifetime without causing disease. However, for some people, such as those who have weakened immune systems, the bacteria can become active and cause TB disease.
  • TB treatment is free for the patient.
  • Tuberculosis case reports and rates for Yorkshire and the Humber and England, 2000-2009

 

Case reports           

 Year  Region  Total
   Yorkshire & the Humber  England
 2000  549  6081
 2001  554  6296
 2002  505  6658
 2003  546  6683
 2004  540  7008
 2005  564  7749
 2006  670  7818
 2007  641  7710
 2008  637  7948
 2009  705  8286

 

Rates, per 100,000 population

 Year  Region  Total
   Yorkshire & the Humber  England
 2000  11.1  12.4
 2001  11.1  12.7
 2002  10.1  13.4
 2003  10.9  13.4
 2004  10.7  14.0
 2005  11.0  15.1
 2006  13.0  15.4
 2007  12.4  15.1
 2008  12.2  15.4
 2009  13.4  16.0

Issued by Charlotte Farrar
Charlotte.farrar@hpa.org.uk
0113 284 0618

Last reviewed: 15 February 2011