There are 40 districts around the country where the rates of TB are high and there there is a strong case for having an additional specialist in TB to support the people who are there. Most of the affected pupils are aged 11 to 14. Health officials have decided to screen 550 older pupils at the college on Wednesday after a teenager of 16 was confirmed as having the disease. It is still not known how the outbreak started, although inquiries are focusing on two pupils who became infectious before their illness was discovered. All the new cases are believed to be at a non-infectious stage that can be treated swiftly with antibiotics.
Doctors stress that they are no risk to others.
Parents in Leicester have been sent letters warning of the problem and the Department of Health has praised health officers' handling of the problem.