Shelter: Tuberculosis rise is ‘no surprise’

Shelter, the charity which campaigns for homes for all, has said that the reported increase in tuberculosis (TB) is “no surprise”.

It has called on the government to take greater steps to tackle the problem, caused by largely overcrowding and children living in “squalid” conditions.

Furthermore, Shelter highlights a link between tuberculosis in Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi populations and the fact that they are “much more likely” to be affected by overcrowding.

Adam Sampson, chief executive of Shelter, remarked: “If the government is serious about tackling this problem, it must accompany any proposed health measures with a commitment to build more family sized homes to reduce overcrowding.”

“This is a key reason why Shelter is calling for the government to commit to building 20,000 more social rented homes in the next comprehensive spending review,” he added.

Mr Sampson concluded by saying that only this “dual approach” would help children to lead a healthy future.

The head of the respiratory diseases department at the Health Protection Agency agreed that the TB problem is focussed in certain populations.

Dr John Watson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that there is a need to concentrate efforts in these areas to tackle the disease, with the help of BCG immunisations.