A new report released by Public Health England (PHE) on the occasion of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on 24 March 2018 has revealed that the number of TB cases in England has declined by 38% over the past 6 years. 2017 alone saw a 9.3% decline in TB cases, making it the lowest TB rate in 35 years.
TB remains a leading killer worldwide and England accounts for one of the highest rates in Western Europe, with under 5200 cases in 2017. PHE and its partners are supporting several campaigns including the recent ‘Light up the World for TB’ campaign to boost the efforts required in making England TB-free.
TB is not as contagious as believed and requires close contact with a patient to acquire the risk for infection. Individuals infected with the TB bacteria do not always develop the TB disease; however, it may result in latent TB which could activate later in life. Even if TB disease develops, a significant majority of the cases can be cured using a 6-month course of specific antibiotics. Clinicians must watch out for common symptoms of TB, which include a persistent cough for more than 3 weeks, unexplained weight loss, fever and night sweats.
Testing and treatment for TB are free and easily accessible through a GP. The services are available in England in areas where TB is common. Dr Sarah Anderson, Head of the National TB Office, has emphasised that there is still a lot of work to be done to eliminate TB in England.
