Originally published January 3 2006
Lothians sees an alarming increase in the number of Tuberculosis cases
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Scotsman reports that tuberculosis cases have doubled in the Lothians, causing local health services to extend their specialist services for the infectious lung disease.
THE number of tuberculosis cases in the Lothians has almost doubled, forcing the health service to expand its specialist services.
The infectious lung disease was once thought to have been virtually eradicated in the UK.
NHS Lothian is now set to employ an extra specialist nurse.
Although it can be fatal if untreated, doctors can completely cure the condition by treating the patient with a cocktail of antibiotics over a six-month period.
NHS Lothian already employs one nurse specialist who is responsible for looking after patients with the disease.
The nurse is also responsible for tracing people who have been in close contact with patients, checking them for infection and providing them with immunisation.
NHS Lothian's director of Public Health, Alison McCallum, said: "There has been a significant increase in the number of reported cases of TB in Lothian.
Dr McCallum added: "The recent increase in cases appears to be largely among people coming from abroad for long-term visits, for example to work or study.
"This is partly to be expected as people move around the world more than ever before, and because Edinburgh is such a popular international destination."
Paul Sommerfeld, the chairman of charity TB Alert, said hotspots for tuberculosis were southern Africa and India.
He also said health board guidelines require them to provide one nurse for every 50 cases of tuberculosis reported, as a high level of care was needed to maintain treatment and trace relatives.
This year, a vaccination programme of all teenagers at school was scrapped in favour of more targeted immunisation of those at risk.
However, Mr Sommerfeld said this was not likely to be contributing the higher number of cases, as most youngsters are not at risk from the disease.
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