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New cases of Tuberculosis (TB) are being identified every day amid rising concern over one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases. BirminghamLive previously reported how the West Midlands was becoming a hotspot for the Victorian disease. Since then, new data has emerged about 11 cases in the past week in the region. However, that is little more than a quarter of the number in London over the same period - the capital recorded 43 suspected cases last week. TB is a bacterial infection that spreads through inhaling droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. It primarily affects the lungs but can impact any part of the body. Each year, it claims the lives of an estimated 1.6 million people worldwide, making it one of the leading causes of death globally. Read more: The condition DWP wants to make it harder to claim sick pay for While TB can be cured with antibiotics, it can become serious if left untreated. The BCG vaccine protects against TB but is only given to those at higher risk of contracting the infection. Experts have previously suggested that an increase in poverty across the UK could be driving the rise in infections. So far this year, there have been 14,431 reported suspected TB cases, more than double the 5,082 logged in 2022 and on track to surpass last year's figure of 19,991. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) collects data from medical professionals who report suspected cases of certain infectious diseases, such as TB, smallpox, and whooping cough. However, not all these cases are later confirmed to be TB by laboratory tests. From April 8 to 14, there were 110 suspected TB cases - up from 74 the previous week. After the capital, the North West came in second as the area where you're most likely to pick up TB, with doctors in the region having reported 19 suspected cases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) previously attributed the rise in 2023 to many people's inability to get a diagnosis or receive treatment during Covid lockdowns. A separate report found cases of drug-resistant TB had increased by three per cent between 2020 and 2021. Professor Nick Hopkinson, medical director of the charity Asthma and Lung UK, attributed this to increased poverty levels in the UK, putting people at greater risk of diseases. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control today said it is investigating a serious number of cases of dangerous and highly infectious shigella sonnei infection -Credit:Getty "Given increasing poverty in the UK, in particular child poverty, the increase in tuberculosis cases is unfortunately not surprising," he said. "There is a well-established link between deprivation and poor lung health. TB is associated with deprivation." "Poor housing and poor nutrition increase the risk of infection spreading and of infected people developing active disease because their immune systems are weakened."