Victorian disease is making a comeback across England - check cases in your area
Scientists are worried progress to fight a deadly disease has "stalled" as the number of cases in England is rising compared to the same time last year.
There were a total of 1,175 cases of tuberculosis (TB) across the country in the three months to September, according to the latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). TB, which primarily affects the lungs, is often associated with Victorian times as it killed at least one in seven people in England at the dawn of the 19th century, but during the same period a year earlier, there were only 1,121 cases.
In the quarter this year, London had the highest number of cases of any region in England with 426. It works out as around one for every 21,000 people in the capital, which is also the highest ratio in the country.
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In the quarter before the period ending in September, 1,353 cases of TB were recorded in England, the data shows. There was concern earlier this year about measles, mumps and rubella following a "worrying" fall in the uptake of routine vaccines. The jab to prevent TB is no longer offered to children in secondary schools in the UK. It was replaced in 2005 with a targeted programme for babies, children and young adults at higher risk of TB.
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Dr Esther Robinson, Head of the TB Unit at UKHSA, said: "TB is curable and preventable, but despite significant progress towards elimination in recent years, the disease remains a serious public health issue in the UK.
"With treatment, most people will make a full recovery. It is very important that those with relevant symptoms are tested for TB and appropriate treatment is started promptly, both for the individual and for the prevention of onward transmission.
"As we head into winter, it is important to remember that 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 three weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including TB.
"Tuberculosis develops slowly, and it may take several weeks, months or even years after you were infected before you notice you’re unwell. Contact your GP if you think you could be at risk so you can get tested and treated."
A doctor examines the X-ray of a patient's chest, including the lungs (Getty Images)Multi-drug resistance remains a major concern for TB treatment, but the latest data indicates that the proportion of people with a multi-drug resistant form of the TB bacteria has remained relatively stable in recent years.
Cases of the disease have been falling over the last 23 years. There were 6,051 cases of TB back in 2000, according to the official figures. That steadily rose to a peak of 8,281 cases in 2011 before falling over the last decade.
By 2019 the number of cases had fallen to 4,705, while in 2022 there were 4,380. There have been 3,628 cases so far in 2023 with another quarter’s figures yet to be reported.
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