Cases of tuberculosis in Oxfordshire have declined in the last year - but the rate of the illness has risen in the South East as a whole.

According to the Health Protection Agency, numbers for the region are up from 619 cases and a rate of 7.6 per 100,000 population in 2004, to 647 cases and a rate of 7.9 per 100,000 in 2005.

The highest rate of tuberculosis in the South East was recorded in the Thames Valley, with the greatest number of cases occurring in Berkshire - with 190 cases and a rate of 24.7 per 100,000.

Oxfordshire compared favourably to Berkshire with 61 cases for 2005, and a rate of 9.9 per 100,000.

There were 69 cases in the county in 2004 but so far this year, there have only been 48 cases.

The rate for the city of Oxford itself last year - 24 per 100,000 - was inflated by a small outbreak of cases in the homeless population.

Dr Elizabeth Haworth, director of the Thames Valley health protection unit and regional epidemiologist, said: "Any increase is a cause for concern and as a result we will be monitoring the situation closely over the next few years.

"We are working to improve the level of information we have about TB.

"It is a preventable and treatable condition. The key to reducing levels is through early diagnosis and treatment of the infection. Once cases are diagnosed it is crucial to trace their close contacts to ensure they are also not infected and to also ensure that prescribed courses of treatment are completed."

Far fewer cases occurred in other areas of the South East. A total of 98 cases were reported for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight - down on the figure of 121 reported in 2004. Surrey and Sussex also showed a decrease on 2004 - 142 cases compared to 158 in 2004.

Kent's total showed an increase on 2004 - 85 cases against 77 the previous year, but Thames Valley's total of 316 cases was an increase from 261 in 2004.

Josephine Wilkes, a spokesman for Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust, said: "We work with bodies like the Health Protection Agency to analyse the latest figures and pass on the information to the relevant staff, including local GPs."