MEP CALLS FOR JOINT ACTION TO TACKLE TB INCREASE IN NORTH EAST (Fiona Hall MEP)

Fiona Hall MEP <info@fionahall.org.uk>

MEP CALLS FOR JOINT ACTION TO TACKLE TB INCREASE IN NORTH EAST

April 7, 2009 12:00 AM

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

As European scientists warn that Tuberculosis (TB) has re-emerged as a significant problem for the European Union, a North East MEP has called on the European Commission to raise its game tackling the disease.

Worldwide, over nine million people contract TB each year. For 2008, records show nearly 90,000 new TB cases in the EU, over 8,000 of which were diagnosed in the UK. And although the North East continues to have one of the lowest levels of TB incidence in the UK, 198 cases were diagnosed in 2007 - an increase of 38% on the previous year.

"TB continues to be the leading cause of death among curable infectious diseases," said Fiona Hall, Lib Dem Euro-MP, "so it seems only sensible to put forward the case for a national and international coordinated effort to beat the disease.

"One of the key problems is that a growing number of TB strains are now resistant to commonly used antibiotics, so fighting the disease gets more complicated and expensive every year.

"The increase in the number of TB diagnosis in the North East is worrying, and highlights the need for action sooner rather than later.

"A shared EU strategy including better communication between countries, more support for new research and the sharing of best practice could be the first step in combating the disease."

Fiona has signed a Written Declaration in the European Parliament calling on the European Commission and Council to allocate more resources and funding to essential research into new medication and to ensure full access to treatment for people living within the EU.