London the tuberculosis capital of Europe
Links: - The Lancet - Professor Alimuddin Zumla - UCL Division of Infection & Immunity - UCL Global Health - Download 'The Challenge of TB: UCL's contribution' The UK is the only country in Western Europe with rising rates of tuberculosis (TB), and cases in London have increased more than 50% since 1999. Nationwide, there are now more than 9,000 cases diagnosed per year. The problem is becoming particularly acute in London, where 40% of all UK TB cases are diagnosed. In a comment piece published today in The Lancet , Global TB expert Professor Alimuddin Zumla (UCL Infection & Immunity) calls for recommendations from a recent UK TB review to be implemented urgently to keep this re-emerging problem under control. The death toll from TB in the UK began to fall in London at the start of the 20th century as living standards (better housing, nutrition and economic status) improved and subsequent TB control was achieved by the introduction in the early 1960s of anti-TB drugs, improved health services and BCG vaccination. By the early 1980s, TB was considered to be conquered in the UK and National Health Service (NHS) TB services were scaled down considerably. Alarmingly, TB has returned to London with a vengeance with an increase in the number of TB cases by nearly 50% since 1999, from 2,309 cases in 1999 to 3,450 cases in 2009 accounting for nearly 40% of all TB cases in the UK.
