TB outbreak in school in Birmingham - 01/05/08

An outbreak of TB is being investigated at a school in Birmingham. All pupils at Birchfield Independent School for girls were tested after a pupil and one of their relatives had tested positive for TB.

Health officials have reported that 30 pupils have tested positive for the disease and will be treated with antibiotics.

The school in Beacon Hill has confirmed the outbreak but has not commented further.

“TB is on the rise in the UK and is spread via close contact with a person who has the disease” says Dr Keith Prowse, Chairman of the British Lung Foundation. “It’s vital that immediate action is taken to investigate the TB strain involved and isolate people affected if necessary. The disease is normally curable with a full course of antibiotics. Drug resistant strains of TB are rising around the world but there have only been a very small number of cases in the UK so far. ”

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