New figures show TB rate at record low

on 22/03/2013 11:20:26

New figures from the HSE show 368 people in Ireland developed TB last year - the lowest rate of the disease since TB surveillance began in 1998.

The HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre has released the statistics, to mark World TB Day on Sunday.

Health chiefs are welcoming the decline, but warn we must remain vigilant as cases of the disease continue to occur.

Symptoms to watch out for include fever and night sweats, a cough that lasts more than three weeks, weight loss and bloody phlegm.

Anyone can get TB, but high-risk categories include people from countries with high levels of TB, people with weakened immune systems, people who have been in contact with a case of TB, homeless people and drug users.