Reporting infectious diseases, good hygiene and infection control, and antibiotic resistance
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Infectious disease outbreaks should be reported to UKHSA on 0300 3038162 or swhpt@ukhsa.gov.uk.
Examples of infectious diseases and national guidance on dealing with these can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/infectious-diseases-detailed-information
Guidance for education and care settings can be found here:
Good hygiene and infection control are vital in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Hand hygiene is one of the most important ways of controlling the spread of infections, especially those that cause diarrhoea or vomiting and respiratory infections.
Top tips for effective handwashing:
Read useful advice on:
Watch this video to find out what happened when schools and early years in Torbay used a light box machine to see how clean their hands are. This was filmed during Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Week in November 2024.
The public health team also took their lightbox to Brixham Hospital during AMR Week 2024 to talk to patients and visitors about good handwashing. They were joined by Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust’s Dr Joanne Watson, who spoke about why it’s important to use antibiotics correctly. You can watch her in the video below:
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24 March is World TB day. Cases are increasing nationally. It is important to raise awareness around the signs and symptoms. It is also useful to remember TB is both treatable and curable if picked up and treated quickly.
Worldwide, TB is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. 10 million people a year fall ill with TB. Sadly, this results in 1.4 million deaths worldwide. Although the UK remains a low incidence country, we are seeing an increase in TB cases. This pattern is reflected locally in Devon.
TB is an infection caused by bacteria. Although it mainly affects the lungs it can actually affect any part of the body. This includes our bones or our brain resulting in meningitis.
When a person has TB in their lungs or throat, and they cough or sneeze it can spread to those around them. It does take more sustained contact with people than viruses such as Covid-19 or Flu.
These can include:
However, people may experience some but not all of these symptoms with TB.
TB is treatable – when diagnosed early and treated promptly and in full. The person with TB needs a prolonged course of specific antibiotics. However, if someone isn’t treated it can become more serious. It is important to:
Anyone. We have seen an increase in cases in the UK for both UK born and non-UK born populations. 80% of cases notified to UKHSA were born outside of the UK. For those born in the UK, TB is more common among those who have:
Not every persistent cough, along with a fever, is caused by flu or COVID-19. A cough that usually has mucus and lasts longer than 3 weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including TB. With TB cases rising, people must be aware of the signs and symptoms of TB. You should speak to your GP early if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. This is especially important if you may be at higher risk of TB infection. Treatment for TB is available free to everyone living in the UK.
The following are podcasts aimed at those working within care homes. The information is also useful for others: