TB Cases at Ten Year High in Birmingham

A report by Birmingham Health Authority reveals new cases of TB reached 356 last year -- a 44 percent rise since 1998. Dr. Surinder Bakhshi, director of communicable diseases at Birmingham Health Authority, said the number of health professionals qualified to treat the disease in the city was among the lowest in the country. "Most patients can be treated in the community but the increasing complexity and number of reported cases requires a much strengthened response from both primary care and the City Central Chest Clinic," Bakhshi said. An additional two staff members would enable the Chest Clinic at Heartlands Hospital to train more professionals to administer simple treatment and follow-up care as well as improve public and patient education about the disease, he said.

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