Increase in tuberculosis cases reported in Wales

Lizzy Willmington, a university lecturer, has recently shared her challenging experience with tuberculosis (TB) after a year of illness. She initially suffered from chest infections, extreme fatigue, and breathing difficulties before receiving her diagnosis. TB is known as one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide. During her illness, Lizzy faced significant isolation and was unable to work for about seven months. She described her treatment as a "gruelling" experience, where she often spent her days sleeping or feeling very unwell. Lizzy noted that her treatment involved a combination of medications that sometimes caused her to vomit and left her exhausted. Public Health Wales (PHW) reported a rise in TB cases, from 84 in 2023 to 95 in 2024, highlighting the need for increased awareness and early diagnosis. They stated that timely treatment is crucial to control the spread of the disease in the community. Lizzy spent a lot of time alone during her recovery, sleeping up to 16 hours a day. She expressed gratitude for the supportive care provided by health professionals at Cardiff's TB clinic. Although unsure how she contracted TB, she suspected it may have been dormant in her system for years. Reflecting on her journey, Lizzy explained that once she completed her treatment last July, she celebrated with friends. After 14 months of struggle, she concluded that while finishing her treatment was a relief, it was impossible to fully recover the lost time. Despite the challenges, she is now trying to focus on how to better use her time moving forward. PHW is organizing a symposium on World TB Day to share insights and discuss strategies to prevent further TB cases in Wales, which still has the lowest infection rates in the UK.