New cases of tuberculosis (TB) in England have fallen to the lowest levels since records began in 1960. The new data published by Public Health England (PHE) comes ahead of World TB Day on Sunday March 24 2019.

Following action by PHE, the NHS and others, there was a 44% drop in new diagnoses from the peak in 2011 to 2018 (from 8,280 to 4,672), with an 8.4% fall in diagnoses between 2017 and 2018 alone.

PHE is working towards the World Health Organisation (WHO) goal to halve TB incidence by 2025, and ultimately eliminate the disease.

TB is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. The most common symptoms of TB are a persistent cough for more than 3 weeks, unexplained weight loss, fever and night sweats. Although TB can be fatal if left untreated, it is curable for the majority with a course of antibiotics.

While huge strides have been made to reduce TB rates, further work needs to be done to eliminate the disease in England. The most deprived 10% of the population have a rate of TB more than 7 times higher than the least deprived 10%, and people born outside the UK have a rate 13 times higher than people born in the UK. People, especially those from these communities, should be aware of the symptoms and make sure they visit their GP if they are concerned.

PHE has played a key role in driving down the rates of TB in England, working with NHS England and other partner organisations to implement the Collaborative tuberculosis strategy for England: 2015 to 2020.

This includes raising awareness and tackling TB in vulnerable populations, ensuring patients successfully complete treatment, and strengthening surveillance of TB rates.

As well as encouraging those with ‘active’ TB infection to seek treatment, PHE has worked with partners to implement testing for latent TB in those arriving from countries with high rates of the disease. A latent TB infection occurs when an individual is carrying the TB bacteria but doesn’t have any symptoms. The bacteria can, however, go on to cause disease in the future.

Steve Brine, Public Health Minister said:

We should be proud that TB rates are now at the lowest levels ever recorded in this country – a true testament to the hard work of the NHS and public health staff in this country.

There is still more to do – people in deprived communities are still disproportionately more likely to contract this disease, so we must do more to tackle this injustice by raising awareness and ensuring early diagnosis and treatment.

Dr Sarah Anderson, Head of TB Strategy at Public Health England, said:

It is hugely encouraging to see a continued decline in TB cases in England, which shows that the interventions we are putting in place are having an impact.

However, TB still affects nearly 5,000 people a year in the UK and many people are simply unaware of the symptoms and impact of the disease.

This World TB Day we are calling for anyone who has possible TB symptoms, or thinks they may be at risk of having latent TB, to speak to their healthcare professional to get diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, to minimise the chance of long-term ill health and onward transmission.

Professor Mike Morgan, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Respiratory Disease, said:

One of our priorities has been to drive improvements in the way TB is managed and it is excellent news that, thanks to the hard work of NHS staff, rates are now significantly lower. However, we must not rest on our laurels and with PHE we will continue to work hard towards the eradication of TB.

The risk factors for tuberculosis include a weakened immune system, poor quality housing, alcohol and substance misuse, or time spent in a country with high TB rates.

While cases are declining overall, still more needs to be done to reach those in under-served populations to ensure they are aware of symptoms and can access treatment.

HS2 has cleared a key construction site close to the new Old Oak Common ‘super-hub’ station, as work to deliver Phase One of the UK’s new high speed rail project continues to ramp up.

The 42,000 square metre site, equivalent to the size of 6 football pitches, is where HS2 will build the Victoria Road Crossover Box, a huge underground structure designed to allow trains passing through the London tunnels to switch tracks.

The clearance of the site, delivered by HS2’s London enabling works contractor, a Costain Skanska joint venture (CSjv) and subcontractor McGee, involved the careful demolition of 8 separate buildings, with more than 98% of materials sent for reuse and recycling.

More than 6,500 cubic meters of rubble from the clearance of the old warehouses and light industrial units was processed on site and will be reused during construction of the tunnels and crossover box.

The team will now move on to clearing hardstanding, completing utilities diversions and collecting geological data that will feed into the detailed design of the crossover box.

Welcoming the milestone, HS2’s Programme Director, Matthew Botelle, said:

The Victoria Road Crossover Box will be a vital part of the underground infrastructure that will make Old Oak Common one of the best connected stations anywhere in the UK.

It’s great to see so much progress and I’d like to thank the team for all their hard work over the past 6 months.

CSjv Programme Director, Peter Jones, said:

I am proud of the CSjv team, which has worked together to achieve this significant milestone for HS2. Our work continues apace across London, with the Ibis hotel and NTH Insull wing near Euston now almost complete and the University College London building on Hampstead Road expected to finished within weeks.

The underground crossover box is being designed and will be built for HS2 by a Costain/Skanska/STRABAG joint venture (SCS Railways). The 130 metre long box will be 25 metres underground, with 3 headhouses at ground level to provide maintenance and emergency access as well as a separate ancillary shaft.

During construction, the caterpillar-shaped box will also be used to launch two of the four tunnel boring machines digging the tunnels from Old Oak Common to Ruislip on the edge of London. Excavated material from the tunnels will be removed via the box and taken away by rail from the nearby Rail Logistics Hub.

Once complete, the Victoria Road box could also be used to provide sustainable waste heat energy to hundreds of new homes around the site, as part of the wider Old Oak and Park Royal development.

A recent feasibility study, produced by HS2, proposed capturing hot air created by trains moving through the tunnels and using heat pumps to transfer it to the surface via the crossover box. This could then be used to heat water and power central heating for new housing developments.

In the long term, the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation has plans for more than 25,500 new homes across a 650 hectare site, making it the largest regeneration project in the UK.

Across the whole of London, more than 1,000 people are currently at work, clearing the way for the start of construction. At Euston, demolitions are well underway alongside the project’s pioneering archaeology programme, while in Birmingham, clearance of Washwood Heath, the project’s future rolling stock depot, is also in full swing.

Work to clear the concrete slab covering the site of the new Birmingham Curzon Street station is also underway. In total more than 7,000 jobs are supported by the HS2 project, both directly and in the UK-wide supply chain.

The Environment Agency has officially opened over 7 kilometres of new river and sea defences in the coastal town of Shoreham, helping to keep the community safe from flooding from storms and rising sea levels. The new £45 million scheme will better protect over 2,300 homes and 169 commercial properties, as well as important local infrastructure such as the road network, railway line and Shoreham Airport.

The majority of the project has been funded by a £37.4 million contribution from government, alongside contributions from Coast to Capital LEP, West Sussex County Council and a number of private developers through Adur District Council.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, attended an event to officially open the scheme today (Friday 22 March). The scheme spans 7,200 metres along the banks of the river Adur with 1.8km of new defences on the east bank between Coronation Green and the A27 road bridge, and 5.4km on the west bank between the river mouth and the A27 road bridge.

The old flood defences varied in height and many were coming to the end of their design life. The new defences are formed of embankments, sheet pile walls, rock revetments, flood glass, and property level protection, and are designed to last for 100 years, with the option of being raised further to add even greater protection into the future. As part of the project, the Environment Agency has also improved public footpaths along the route of the defences.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency said:

This new scheme represents a remarkable feat of engineering which will see Shoreham better protected from flooding over the course of the next century

The Environment Agency has worked closely with partners and the local community to build and upgrade 7 kilometres of new and existing flood walls, embankments and other defences, bringing greater peace of mind to thousands of homeowners and well over one hundred businesses in the local area.

Floods Minister Thérèse Coffey said:

I’m delighted to see the Shoreham Adur Tidal Walls flood scheme open, protecting over 2,000 homes and businesses and supporting crucial local infrastructure including Shoreham Airport.

With £37.4 million of government investment representing over 80% of the total cost, the project showcases the very best of partnership working, demonstrating how government can work with its valued partners to continue to support local communities from flooding.

Minister for Local Growth, Jake Berry MP said:

This Government is committed to boosting economic growth across the whole of the UK and building a Britain fit for the future.

Protecting businesses from the impact of extreme weather is vital so it is good to see how Coast to Capital have worked with the Environment Agency to fund the reinforcement of flood defences along the River Adur. This will not only protect Shoreham harbour and airport but will also unlock the area for housing developments and employment space, supporting the local economy and opportunities for local people.

Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said:

Flood prevention is such an important issue and I would like to congratulate the Environment Agency and the project’s partners on the successful completion of this major scheme for Adur.

Cllr Neil Parkin, Leader of Adur District Council, said:

The Adur Tidal Walls scheme will have an immeasurable impact on the residents and businesses in Shoreham and Lancing. It will not only will protect our communities from future flooding but it also gives investors certainty, supporting the creation of new homes and workplaces while opening up the riverside to local residents.

I want to thank the Environment Agency and their contractors for the work over the past couple of years. The complex scheme has presented a number of challenges and there is still the issue of completing the defences at the Sussex Yacht Club site to resolve.

The new defences are made up of over 15,000 bricks, 800 m3 of concrete and 6,845 tonnes of rock. The project has also created approximately 1.4 hectares of compensatory saltmarsh habitat for the benefit of local wildlife.

The Environment Agency is investing £2.6 billion to better protect an additional 300,000 homes by 2021. Many of these flood and coastal schemes incorporate a range of measures including working with nature, alongside traditional engineering techniques.

The Environment Agency has officially opened over 7 kilometres of new river and sea defences in the coastal town of Shoreham, helping to keep the community safe from flooding from storms and rising sea levels.