Alarm raised over TB threat

TB claims millions of lives worldwide

A leading scientist has warned that rates of tuberculosis in Britain could lead to a human disaster unless urgent action is taken.

The number of cases of TB have risen by 80% in the last ten years, with London being a hot-spot for the disease.

Professor John Grange, from the Centre for Infectious Diseases at University College, London, said the huge influx of refugees and asylum-seekers and the social disadvantages they suffer was partly to blame.

Do we have to wait for a human disaster before we take adequate action?

Professor John Grange

The Department of Health has said there was no justification for the claims.

Professor Grange warned that levels of TB in London were now similar to those in New York in 1989, when a major outbreak of the disease cost the city more than £26m.

He stressed that while half the cases in the UK were found in people from the Indian sub continent, TB was also on the increase among the white population, particularly in poorer families.

He said there were 7,000 reported cases last year, with an average of two deaths and 50 new cases reported every week in London.

In 1989, cases of TB in New York were running at 35 people in every 100,000, and by 1991 that figure had shot up to more than 50 in every 100,000 people, Professor Grange added.

Some forms of TB are resistant to drugs

He called for the number of specialist TB nurses to be increased in UK hotspots to ensure there was at least one nurse for every 50 cases notified.

"Do we have to wait for a human disaster of the magnitude of the one that struck New York before we take adequate action?

"This year, millions of people will travel to foreign countries as tourists or businessman and in many regions they are at risk of being infected.

"Indeed, some people may have become infected in aeroplanes - another clear indication that we are all at risk."

'No justification'

A statement from the Department of Health said: "There has been a worldwide resurgence in TB, but notification levels in the UK are still relatively low at around 6,500 a year compared with 50,000 in 1950 and 9,000 in 1980.

"These low levels have been achieved through active surveillance of TB and screening and treatment for identified cases and their contacts, along with the BCG vaccination programme.

There is no justification for the claim that we are 'waiting for human disaster'

Department of Health

"There is no justification for the claim that we are 'waiting for human disaster'."

The statement also said new funding, a London-wide TB register and a review of TB services were all under way to ensure priority was given to controlling the disease in London.

It added: "There is no evidence that air filtration units in aircraft transmit TB, although indirect evidence suggests that it could be acquired by sitting near someone with infectious TB on a long haul flight who is coughing.

"The BCG vaccination programme for children will restart as soon as we are assured of a regular, safe supply of vaccine.

"The vaccine manufacturers were unable to meet these requirements, which is why the scheme was reluctantly suspended."