Warning as cases of deadly medieval disease that causes victims to cough up blood surges 11% in UK
In England, tuberculosis is on the rise, and medical professionals are cautioning people not to confuse its symptoms with those of the flu or COVID-19.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports that cases of the so-called “medieval disease” increased by more than 11% last year, from 4380 in 2022 to 4855 in 2023.
The extremely contagious virus is currently being referred to as a “serious public health issue in England” by health officials.
According to the UKHSA study released today, London, which is sometimes referred to as the TB capital of Western Europe, has the highest infection rates in the UK, with 18.7 cases per 100,000 individuals.
In 2023, the number of TB cases rose among both UK-born and non-UK-born individuals.
However, 80% of all instances were people who were not born in the UK, and most of them were from nations like India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Romania where tuberculosis is more common.
Read more on TB
People who have a prolonged cough and fever are being advised not to ignore their symptoms, especially if they belong to a group that is more likely to have tuberculosis.
Not all chronic coughs accompanied by fevers are brought on by the flu or COVID-19, according to Dr. Esther Robinson, chief of the TB unit at UKHSA.
“TB is one of several conditions that can produce a cough that lasts longer than three weeks and typically contains mucus.
“If you believe you may be in danger, please consult your doctor.
In 2023, 10.8 million people worldwide received a TB diagnosis, the greatest number ever.
It was the most lethal infectious disease in the world that year, killing 1.25 million people, more than HIV and COVID.
World s most deadly infection leaves man with giant crusty wart sprouting from his hand amid worrying UK resurgence
This increase has previously been linked by the World Health Organization (WHO) to problems with diagnosis and treatment during COVID lockdowns.
In the meantime, a different study found that the number of drug-resistant TB infections increased by 3% between 2020 and 2021.
Following an outbreak at a Welsh institution in July 2022, British citizens were cautioned to be on the lookout for signs of the fatal illness.
Eight months after having intimate contact with a person who had died from tuberculosis, three students tested positive for the disease.
The ‘healthy’ 30-year-old nurse Carrieanne Franks died in 2020 after getting TB while working as a volunteer on an NHS unit.
According to a devastating assessment, she was not informed for months that she had been exposed to tuberculosis (TB), which delayed her diagnosis and ultimately led to her death.
Once referred to as consumption, tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs.
When an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or spits, it spreads via the air.
When to see a GP
See a general practitioner (GP) if you’re having any of the following symptoms:
- You’ve had a cough for more than 3 weeks
- You’re feeling tired or exhausted and you’re not sure why
- You have a high temperature or night sweats that do not go away
- You often do not feel hungry
- You keep losing weight without changing your diet or exercise routine
- You’ve spent a lot of time with someone who has tuberculosis (TB) and has symptoms (for example, you live with someone who has it)
Among the main symptoms are:
- A persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks and usually brings up phlegm, which may be bloody
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- High temperature (fever)
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- New swellings that haven t gone away after a few weeks
Although tuberculosis can be fatal, medications can generally cure it.
In extreme situations, the infection may spread to other body regions, including the nervous system, glands, bones, brain, heart, and abdomen.
The following groups are more susceptible to TB infection:
- In close contact with infected individuals
- Travelling to areas with high TB rates
- Experiencing homelessness
- Addicted to drugs
- Living with weakened immune systems
- In prison
Although there is a vaccine to prevent tuberculosis, several nations have stopped their vaccination programs throughout the last 20 years.
Read More on The US Sun
The BCG vaccine is administered in childhood and is currently the most commonly used vaccination worldwide.
In the UK, it is no longer available to secondary school students; instead, it is only available to young children who are seen to be the most vulnerable.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!