Tuberculosis cases are surging in the UK: Symptoms and advice you need to know

Tuberculosis (TB) infections are surging in England, with a significant increase in cases prompting health officials to urge healthcare providers to remain vigilant for symptoms. This infectious bacterial disease has seen its largest annual rise since national surveillance began, highlighting a concerning trend.

Figures from the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) reveal that TB notifications increased by almost 14 per cent year on year in 2024, reaching 5,490 cases compared to 4,831 in the previous year. Provisional data further indicates an additional 3.9 per cent increase in cases during the first half of 2025. This surge reverses a long-term downward trend in TB cases that began after a peak in 2012.

These escalating figures mean England is currently not on track to meet the World Health Organisation's targets to significantly reduce TB by 2035, which aim for a 90 per cent reduction in patients suffering from the disease. The UKHSA has emphasized the importance of community awareness regarding key symptoms.

Tuberculosis primarily affects the lungs but can impact any part of the body, including lymph nodes, bones, and the brain, potentially causing meningitis. It spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. While TB is a potentially fatal condition in serious cases, it is curable with early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment.

Key symptoms of TB include a cough lasting more than three weeks, high temperatures, drenching night sweats, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for the flu or Covid-19. Early detection is crucial for successful treatment with antibiotics.

The bacteria responsible for tuberculosis are of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, and transmission predominantly occurs through coughing and sneezing. TB continues to be most prevalent in urban areas, notably London, but significant increases have also been observed in the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the South West.

Data indicates that individuals born outside the UK accounted for eight out of ten TB notifications in England last year. Furthermore, there is a clear correlation between TB and social deprivation, with individuals experiencing homelessness, drug and alcohol dependence, or involvement with the criminal justice system facing higher risks. Those residing in the most deprived areas of England experience five times the rate of infections compared to those in the most affluent regions, according to UKHSA figures.