Figures show significant rise in rates of TB

RATES of TB increased significantly in Cork last year, showing the highest number of reported cases for a decade.

However, Kerry is bucking the national trend where instances continue to decrease.

In 1995 there were 112 reported cases in both counties and this rose to a peak of 118 the following year.

However, a gradual decrease then occurred dropping to a low as 72 in 2001.

But it increased to 77 in 2005 and provisional figures issued for last year show 100 new cases.

According to Health Service Executive (South) officials that showed an incidence rate of 17.2 per 100,000 people.

The reason for the rise nationally hasn’t been fully explained. However, concern has been raised by a number of leading public health specialists who believe current TB services are inadequate and are worried about the continued rise in multi-drug resistant TB cases.

Leading TB expert Professor Luke Clancy has claimed that Ireland is wide open to a TB pandemic because of the lack of proper services.

His claims have been supported by Dr Darina O’Flanagan, director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and Dr Paula Gilvarry, who is vice president of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO).

Last year there were 92 reported cases in Cork, rising from 68 in 2005 and a low of 59 in 2004. In Kerry the picture was entirely different. There were 14 cases reported in 2004, nine the following year and eight last year.

A spokesman for the Health Executive Service (South) said yesterday that people in close contact with a person with active TB, who is coughing up phlegm, are most at risk and people most likely to catch it are living in the same houses.

“If an individual has active TB it is necessary to screen their immediate contacts such as family or close friends. The results of the tests are read in 48 to 72 hours,” the spokesman said.

For most people primary infection with TB is a minor illness. The body becomes resistant to tuberculosis and no active disease develops. However, some people develop the disease — which affects the lungs — and this may be due to having a low resistance level at the time.

While there is concern about multi-drug resistant TB, the HSE said that most cases can be treated effectively, so long as a full course of antibiotics are taken. The minimum duration should be six months.

“For most individuals with TB, hospital admission is not necessary. People can live a completely normal life while taking treatment and can usually return to work or school shortly after settling on treatment on the advice of their doctor,” the HSE spokesman said.

TB is transmitted by inhalation and is characterised by cough, fever, shortness of breath, weight loss, and tubercles in the lungs.