More than a quarter of the region’s cases of tuberculosis have occurred in the Bradford district, latest figures released by the Health Protection Agency reveal.

Provisional figures for the number of cases of TB in the Bradford and Airedale area in 2010 is 173, compared to 205 in 2009. In Yorkshire and Humber as a whole, 641 cases have provisionally be reported, compared to 692 the previous year.

The figures, released to mark World TB Day, indicate that cases could be stabilising in the region, after a spike in 2009. However, regional experts are calling for the decline to be treated with caution.

Ebere Okereke, consultant in communicable disease control for the Health Protection Agency in Yorkshire and the Humber said: “Following a steady increase in the first decade of this century, TB cases within our region appeared to peak by 2006 and remained stable, with early evidence of a decline.

“However, in 2009, we reported a sharp 11 per cent increase in cases and this was a serious concern. The latest provisional figure for 2010 is more reflective of the position prior to 2009 and it’s encouraging that we are seeing that the number of TB cases in our region are beginning to stabilise once again. However, this is not enough to tackle the problem and our efforts to control this disease must be strengthened further.

“TB is both preventable and curable, but prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent serious ill health and to limit spread of the disease in the community.”

TB can be spread when someone coughs or sneezes. Close and prolonged contact with someone with active lung TB is needed to be at risk of being infected. Symptoms include fever, a persistent cough, weight loss, blood in your sputum and fatigue.

  • Read the full story in Friday's T&A