With the global spread of the Coronavirus, the Chief Medical Officer for Public Health in Britain has warned about the decline in attention to other diseases and the neglect of symptoms that individuals believe indicate "COVID-19". Dr. Jenny Harries stated in remarks reported by the BBC that a persistent cough and fever, which are symptoms of a Coronavirus infection, may also be indicators of other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB).
This warning from the UK's Chief Medical Officer comes as data shows that over 4,400 TB cases were recorded in England last year, compared to 4,125 cases in 2020, though there are likely unreported cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. British charities are calling for increased funding to combat tuberculosis worldwide, as progress in its control has been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts.
In 2020, deaths from tuberculosis ranked second after COVID-19 globally on the list of deaths from infectious diseases. Harries, the Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, indicated that late diagnosis and treatment of TB, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, could increase the number of undiagnosed cases.
She added, "It is important to remember that not every chronic cough coupled with fever indicates COVID-19." Harries continued, "A cough that is typically accompanied by mucus and lasts for more than three weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including tuberculosis."
Although TB can sometimes be life-threatening, the vast majority of cases can be successfully treated with appropriate antibiotics over a period of six months. However, incomplete or inadequate treatment can lead to drug resistance, necessitating the trial of other treatment regimens.
