Quote:
Originally Posted by jinx
Where are you cloud?
In the US, the BCG vaccine is not used because its efficacy has not been proven sufficient (estimated at 70-80%). In 2004 the US experienced 5 cases of TB per 100,000. In the UK on the other hand, where children are routinely given the BCG vaccine, they experienced 12 cases of TB per 100,000 in the same year.
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The BCG is no longer offered routinely in schools (you are correct in that it was in 2004). Students are now risk assessed to see whether the vaccine should be used.
Interestingly, many of the TB cases in the last few years would not have been prevented by the across the board vaccination anyway, as they oringated overseas.
From here:
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... The highest proportion of cases - 38% - were reported among people from an Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnic background.
[snip]
"This suggests that the increase is not a result of a large number of individuals arriving recently with TB but rather a combination of TB disease developing in individuals who may have been infected for some time and new infections acquired in the UK, or as a result of travel to other countries where TB is common."
[snip]
People applying to come to the UK for six months or more must get a certificate giving them the all clear from an accredited clinic in their country.
Also anyone appearing ill or complaining of illness is examined at some airports. Heathrow has three X-ray machines and Gatwick one.
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TB is something that's quite high on the agenda here in Leicester as we have both a high immigrant population, also a a high number of 2nd and 3rd generation families that return to India & Pakistan on regular visits. We also have some deprived areas where people are living below the offcially recognised poverty line. This puts Leicester on a high risk for TB. In fact the last serious school outbreak in the UK (254 infected pupils) occurred here in 2001.