Recorded cases of a “medieval disease” are on the rise, with health officials warning those experiencing symptoms not to dismiss them.
Tuberculosis (TB) was rife in the 19th century prior to the discovery of antibiotics and a vaccine. Yet, cases are on the rise again, with a 11 percent increase last year, according to the UK Heath Security Agency (UKHSA).
Health officials are now calling the highly infectious bug a “serious public health issue in England”, with London at the epicentre.
The capital has the highest rates of infection in the UK, according to a new report, with 18.7 cases per 100,000 people, leading to it being dubbed the “tuberculosis capital of Western Europe.”
The report shows that cases have increased amongst both UK-born and non-UK populations in the last year.
However, four in five cases have occurred amongst those born outside of the UK, with most cases coming from countries where TB is more prevalent, such as Pakistan, Nigeria and Romania.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) symptoms include a prolonged cough, sometimes with blood, chest pain, weakness, fatigue, fever and weight loss. It spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or spit.
The symptoms are similar to those experienced with the flu or covid, leading many people to dismiss them as something less serious.
Dr Esther Robinson, head of the TB unit at UKHSA, said: “Not every persistent cough, along with a fever, is caused by flu or Covid.
“A cough that usually has mucus and lasts longer than three 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.”
Globally, there were 10.8 million infections in 2023, the highest figure since records began.
Of these infections, 1.25 million were fatal, making the disease more deadly than HIV and Covid.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has previously attributed this spike to disruptions in diagnosis and treatment during Covid lockdowns.
Meanwhile, a separate report revealed a three per cent rise in drug-resistant TB cases between 2020 and 2021.
Common symptoms of TB are:
- prolonged cough (sometimes with blood)
- chest pain
- weakness
- fatigue
- weight loss
- fever
- night sweats
The symptoms people get depend on which part of the body is affected by TB. While TB usually affects the lungs, it can also involve the kidneys, brain, spine and skin.