CASES of tuberculosis are on the increase in the North West, according to reports published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
Provisional data published by the (HPA) showed that in 2006 the North West had the fourth highest rate of TB with 11.2 cases per 100,000 people reported. The data also identified a two per cent increase in cases reported across England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 8,008 in 2005 to 8,171 in 2006 and health officials are now urging people to be more aware of the disease.
HPA regional TB leader Dr Marko Petrovic said: "TB is generally a preventable and curable condition. The trick is to diagnose it early and get people with the infection into appropriate treatment as soon as possible.
"Increasingly, TB in the North West is a disease of people who have links with countries where the disease is common. It's important though for everyone to be aware of the symptoms of TB because this is a disease that can still affect any one of us."
Dr Petrovic added that considerable effort was being made in the North West to improve surveillance systems so that problem areas of TB could be identified.
Symptoms of TB include fever, persistent cough, losing weight and blood in the saliva.
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