A healthcare planning body is raising awareness about the ‘devastating effects’ of an infectious lung disease whose levels in the borough are among the highest in the capital.

March 24 is World TB (Tuberculosis) Day and according to Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Harrow has ‘one of the highest’ numbers of people with tuberculosis in London - with the capital accounting for the highest proportion of cases in England (39.0%).

Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) claim there is still ‘a lot of stigma’ surrounding the disease, but that it is treatable.

They say TB levels in Harrow reflect ‘a large migrant community’ from high risk countries, including Sub-Saharan and West Africa, and Southeast Asia. TB is spread by moisture from coughs or sneezes from an infected person.

Symptoms include persistent coughing for over three weeks, coughing up blood, high temperature and night sweats. It mainly affects the lungs but can also spread to the stomach, bones and nervous system. Latent TB has no symptoms.

Chair of NHS Harrow CCG, Dr Amol Kelshiker, said: “World TB Day is an important opportunity to highlight the devastating effects of the disease if left untreated.

“The number of people affected has dropped in recent years but London still has the highest TB rate of any city in Western Europe.

“There is still a lot of stigma around TB but it is treatable with antibiotics and importantly is a free service.”

There was an average of 95 (annual number) confirmed cases in Harrow between 2014 and 2016, with 200 people tested for latent TB since 2016.

Screening services for latent TB are available at GP surgeries, and more information can be found here at www.nhs.uk/conditions/tuberculosis-tb/ - and here www.thetruthabouttb.org/latent-tb/