§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of recorded cases of TB(a) in the Avon area and (b) nationally in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [146107]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 22 January 2001]: Notification rates of tuberculosis in England and Wales are monitored by the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS).
Data on the notifications of TB for Avon and nationally for the past 10 years are shown in the table.
Year Avon health authority England and Wales Total 1990 44 5,204 1991 48 5,436 1992 52 5,799 1993 53 5,921 1994 47 5,591 1995 54 5,608 1996 66 5,654 1997 61 5,859 1998 60 6,087 1999 60 6,144 The relatively low levels of disease in this country compared with other countries can be maintained only through active TB control. We have taken steps to strengthen the surveillance, prevention and control of TB, including drug-resistant TB, within the United Kingdom. Current provision includes:
108Wspecialised chest clinics in every area with doctors experienced in the treatment of TB;the screening of immigrants from countries with high rates of TB either at ports of entry or locally when they arrive at their destination, or a combination of these;the publication of guidance from the interdepartmental working group on tuberculosis with recommendations on how local control and prevention of TB (including in homeless people) can be enhanced and for prevention and control of the transmission of HIV-related and drug-resistant, including multiple drug-resistant, tuberculosis'.In addition to the existing provisions, recent developments include:
the commencement of work on on-going enhanced surveillance of TB to improve monitoring;the appointment of regional epidemiologists to help towards a more co-ordinated approach to surveillance (including TB);the strengthening of surveillance of drug and multi-drug-resistant TB through a scheme co-ordinated by the PHLS;the development—by the PHLS—and availability of more rapid diagnostic and drug susceptibility tests for TB, which can be used where there is a presence of risk factors which might predispose towards multi-drug-resistant TB;the co-ordination of the PHLS's activities through the new tuberculosis programme;in London, where TB cases are concentrated, after wide consultation, proposals are being taken forward to improve delivery of TB services.