Tuberculosis hits UK
LONDON, April 5 (UPI) -- Tuberculosis, the disease that was the scourge of
Victorian England, has erupted again in a "major outbreak" in Britain, this
time in a "particularly virulent strain" that has struck at least 27
students at a school in the country's midlands, medical officials said
Thursday.
Experts said another 60 pupils at the Crown Hills Community College in
Leicester were believed to be infected, and one said it had become "a race
against time" to halt the outbreak, the largest in Britain in recent memory.
Emergency screening of the 1,200 students at the college was under way
Thursday as those already infected with the disease were put on heavy doses
of antibiotics. Leicestershire Health Authority officials said they were
considering whether to screen pupils at other schools in the area.
"It is a particularly virulent strain of the disease that is spreading
rapidly," said Dr. Philip Monk, a consultant on communicable disease control
at the health authority. "This is clearly a major outbreak."
"While we have found a lot of students at this (Crown Hills) college," he
added, "it is most likely to be a reflection of a community outbreak."
Monk soft-pedaled speculation that the disease could have been imported by
students who had visited relatives in Asia. "How it was introduced, we do
not know," he said, "but it doesn't have to be from traveling abroad."
Tuberculosis was a major killer in England in the 19th century and early
years of the 20th century and was particularly devastating in poorer areas
before it was brought under control in the 1920s.
Experts said the Leicester outbreak appeared to be gaining a hold in the
wider community and that the final number of TB cases could rise "a lot
higher."
A Department of Health spokeswoman said "this is a large and unusual
outbreak, but a thorough investigation is under way."
That investigation also was expected to examine claims that suspension of
a TB vaccination program for teenagers in Britain was suspended 18 months
ago because of a shortage of vaccine. The Department of Health said
inoculation would be resumed immediately.