The UK Health Security Agency has raised an alarm following a notable increase in cases of a historical disease that was prevalent in the UK during the 1700s. Tuberculosis (TB) levels in England saw a 13.6% rise in 2024 compared to the previous year, as indicated by recent data released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
In 2024, there were 5,490 reported cases of TB, up from 4,831 in 2023. TB is both preventable and treatable, with 84.4% of patients completing treatment within a year.
Symptoms of TB include a prolonged cough with mucus that lasts more than three weeks. Currently, England has a notification rate of 9.4 cases per 100,000 individuals, which is below the peak of 15.6 cases per 100,000 in 2011.
While 82% of TB cases in 2024 were in individuals born outside the UK, there was an increase in cases among both UK-born and non-UK-born populations. This increase aligns with global trends of rising TB rates in various countries.
TB remains linked to socio-economic deprivation and is more prevalent in densely populated urban areas. London has the highest regional notification rate at 20.6 cases per 100,000, followed by the West Midlands at 11.5 cases per 100,000.
In the UK, TB is more common among individuals experiencing homelessness, substance abuse issues, and involvement in the criminal justice system. Cases of drug-resistant TB, requiring more intricate and prolonged treatment, have reached their highest levels since enhanced monitoring began in 2012, posing additional challenges to healthcare services.
Dr. Esther Robinson, Head of the TB Unit at UKHSA, emphasized the importance of swift action to break transmission chains through prompt identification and treatment. Persistent coughs lasting over three weeks, particularly with mucus, could indicate TB and warrant consultation with a GP, especially for individuals recently arriving from regions where TB is prevalent.
TB affecting organs other than the lungs can exhibit varying symptoms depending on the affected organ.