THE UK Health Security Agency has said there is a confirmed case of Tuberculosis in Winchester.

The patient with the infectious disease is currently being treated at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

In a statement to the Chronicle, the UKHSA South East said they are: "Working with partners following a confirmed case of tuberculosis (TB) who is being treated at Royal Hampshire County Hospital."

The organisation assured the public that there is no risk that the infectious disease will spread.

Anand Fernandes, consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA South East, said: "People should be reassured that, as a general rule, TB does not spread easily from person to person.

"People are normally only at increased risk if they have spent many hours in close contact with someone with active TB.

"Early detection and treatment with antibiotics are key to stopping the spread of the infection. It is important that everyone is aware of the symptoms of TB, as greater awareness can mean the condition is diagnosed much faster."

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Julie Dawes, chief nurse, of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Simon Bryant, director of public health for Hampshire County Council, said: "On occasion we care for patients with tuberculosis (TB) at Hampshire Hospitals and our expert staff are fully trained and equipped to do so.

"We cannot comment further on individual patient care.

"The local community should be reassured that, as a general rule, TB does not spread easily from person to person.

"People are normally only at increased risk if they have spent many hours in close contact with someone with active TB.

"Working closely with our partners, every effort is made to ensure patients who need specialised care remain in hospital or in the most appropriate setting for the duration of their treatment."

Official government figures show that in 2021, a total of 4,425 people were notified with TB, an annual notification rate of 7.8 per 100,000 population.

This is an increase of 7.3 per cent in the number of notifications and 6.8 per cent in the rate compared with 2020.

England, therefore, remains a low-incidence TB country (less than or equal to 10 per 100,000).

The following are symptoms of TB:

  • Persistent and gradually worsening cough
  • Feeling unusually ill or tired
  • Weight loss for no obvious reason
  • Loss of appetite for no obvious reason
  • Sweating attacks - especially at night
  • Coughing up blood

TB is a bacterial disease that, if it affects the lungs or throat, can be spread through the air in droplets containing the bacteria.

If these TB bacteria are breathed in over a long period of time, a person may become infected.

It develops slowly in the body and it can take many months or even years for a patient to become openly infectious.

In most instances, TB is fully curable and the majority of patients make a complete recovery.

The usual treatment is a six-month course of TB drugs and it is vitally important for the entire course to be completed, even though the patient may feel better after just a few weeks.