We’re finally in October - the month of pumpkin carving, beer-guzzling, falling leaves and tbh, the start of flu season. As the weather temps dip, so do our immune systems apparently. If you’ve been having a strangely persistent cough these days, there might be an old disease in the air and the data says it all.
The disease in question is Tuberculosis, more popularly known as TB. In the first half of this year, data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has shown that TB cases in England have increased by 7% to 2,408 notifications as compared to the same period last year.
Isn’t TB extinct though? Well, not quite. It was really serious about 150 years ago, causing about one in eight of all deaths in the UK. At the time, London was apparently called the tuberculosis capital of Europe. By the 1980s, it had become uncommon thanks to a combination of better housing, nutrition, early detection and effective treatments.
However, progress towards elimination has stalled in recent years. The UKHSA said, in a statement, that TB cases remain highest in people who are ‘originally from parts of the world where the disease is more common’, those in large urban areas which have higher deprivation levels, those who are ‘socially excluded’ and more prone to health risks.
Before you get overly worried about feeling extra sniffly, TB is ‘curable and preventable’ according to Dr Esther Robinson, head of the TB unit at UKHSA. ‘Despite significant progress towards elimination in recent years, the disease remains a serious public health issue in the UK. 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 3 weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including TB.’
If you think you could be at risk, contact your local GP and get tested as soon as possible.
Did you see that squidgy horse chestnuts are ruining this year's World Conker Championships?
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