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London has 40% of United Kingdom鈥檚 cases of Tuberculosis and the figure continues to grow.

Newham, Brent and Ealing have been top three for some years, with Hounslow and Tower Hamlets not far behind.

Figures from the Health Protection Agency show migrants from the African or Indian Sub continent are most likely to have the disease.

TB affects one third of the world's population and it's likely that a high number of migrants have the inactive form of the virus when they enter the country. Most will never develop the disease.

Those who do develop it are often unaware of their condition until the final degenerative stages. Not used to the western way of living and often not being able to speak the language they go unnoticed.

Ealing PCT has been monitoring the rising number of cases in the borough. Johan Van Wejgerden says:听

"If you have newly immigrated your health is not normally a priority.听 Settling in is your main priority. And TB is still quite stigmatised in Indian sub continent so to own up is quite difficult."

In a report by the PCT, TB patients live in areas that have high indexes of multiple deprivation, such as Southall and Acton.

A number of boroughs have now appointed outreach workers hoping to spread awareness of the problem.听

What is TB?

Tuberculosis, or TB, is a disease caused by a germ that usually affects the lungs, but can affect other parts of the body.

TB is usually spread via air. It is caught from another person who has TB of the lungs. TB gets into the air when that person coughs or sneezes.

A six month treatment can usually suppress the active virus.

Your thoughts welcome email Ealing & Hounslow Reporter: ramaa.sharma@bbc.co.uk