Tuberculosis Cases Are Rising In The UK And Several Groups Are At Risk

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 1.23 million people died from tuberculosis (TB) in 2024 (including 150 000 among people with HIV). Globally, TB is the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent and among the top 10 causes of death.

Additionally, the UK Health Security Agency reported that in England, TB diagnoses increaseds by 13% in 2024 compared with the previous year, to 5480 people. 

While in the UK, we are still just about under the WHO threshold for ‘low incidence’ status of the disease, these figures and similar trends in the US are a sign that progress has stalled and we’re no longer on the trajectory for ending TB. 

Which is desperately sad as the disease is both curable and treatable. 

Who is at risk of TB in the UK?

BBC Science Focus explains: “TB is closely tied to poverty and to the conditions in which people live and work. Crowded or poorly ventilated housing, homelessness, low income and health risks such as under-nutrition, diabetes, smoking and heavy alcohol use can all increase a person’s vulnerability.

“People in disadvantaged communities are more likely to be exposed and less likely to be diagnosed early, meaning that generally they suffer from worse treatment outcomes. Social stigma, gaps in health systems and misattributed symptoms can also further delay care.”

The NHS also says: 

Anyone can get TB, but some people are more likely to get it or get more seriously ill from it, including people who:

spend a lot of time with someone who has active TB, such as people living in the same housewere born in or lived in an area where TB is more commonhave a weakened immune system, such as people with HIV, a kidney transplant or who are having certain treatment like chemotherapyare under 5 years of agelive in overcrowded or unhealthy conditions, such as people who are homelessregularly smoke, drink alcohol or take drugshave had TB before and it was not treated properly

Those who are at higher risk of being infected are encouraged to get the vaccine against TB, called the BCG vaccine.

What are the symptoms of TB?

Symptoms include:

a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks – you may cough up mucus (phlegm) or mucus with blood in itfeeling tired or exhausteda high temperature or night sweatsloss of appetiteweight lossfeeling generally unwell

In children, it may also prevent growth and gaining weight.