UK tuberculosis rates ‘still high compared to other EU nations’

Tuberculosis rates in the UK went down in 2012 but still remain problematically high, according to official government figures.

Public Health England data shows that 8,751 tuberculosis cases were reported in the UK in 2012, slightly lower than the 8,963 cases reported in 2011, showing that rates have stabilised at around 14 cases per 100,000 since the mid-2000s.

However, incidence of the disease in the UK remains high compared to most other western European countries, despite efforts to improve prevention, treatment and control.

The most at-risk groups remain the elderly, ethnic minorities and those with social risk factors such as a history of homelessness, imprisonment or substance abuse.

Dr Lucy Thomas, head of tuberculosis surveillance for Public Health England, said: "Tuberculosis is a preventable and treatable condition, but if left untreated can be life threatening. Efforts to control the spread of this infection must remain a public health priority."

TB is the leading cause of death among curable infectious diseases, leading to the spread of the condition being declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization in 1993.