Epidemic fears over homeless infection rates

Homeless people across the world have dramatically higher rates of infection with tuberculosis (TB), HIV and hepatitis C, and could fuel community epidemics that cost governments dear, a study has shown.

With an estimated 650,000 homeless people in the US and around 380,000 in Britain, experts said high levels of infection would not only cause yet more poverty and distress for those without homes, but could also become a wider problem.

“Infections in homeless people can lead to community infections and are associated with malnutrition, long periods of homelessness, and high use of medical services,” said Seena Fazel, of the University of Oxford, who led the study.