A man from Norfolk has been detained under the Public Health Act to prevent him from spreading a rare strain of tuberculosis which is difficult to treat.

The TB patient is currently being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital near Cambridge.

Health officials sought an order at Norwich Magistrates Court for him to be forcibly kept at the hospital for treatment for what was described as a “rare form” of the highly contagious disease. 

District Judge David Wilson was told up to 12 months of continuous treatment might be needed to cure his condition. 

The man had already attempted to abscond from the hospital and has threatened to try again, the court was told.

Eastern Daily Press: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and spreads through infected people coughing, sneezing or spittingTuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and spreads through infected people coughing, sneezing or spitting (Image: NIAID/Creative Commons)

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Health officials can make an application for the enforced isolation of a patient under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.

The act states that “any officer of the hospital may do all acts necessary” to effect the order to detain an infectious person in hospital.

No further details were given in court about the man.

District Judge Wilson approved the order application saying it was necessary due to the man's "non-compliance".

TB, which spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze or spit, posed a “significant harm to human health”, he added.