The UK Health Security Agency has urged people to be aware of the symptoms as new figures show a 13% rise in the number of people affected in England
Brits are being warned to stay vigilant for signs of a potentially fatal illness that’s on the rise across England. Shocking new stats reveal a 13% surge in tuberculosis (TB) cases, an infection primarily hitting the lungs and marked by symptoms like a persistent cough and fever.
While treatable with antibiotics, TB can turn deadly if ignored. The World Health Organisation has flagged the disease, once rampant in Victorian Britain, as the “world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent”.
Despite England’s low TB rates, there’s been a worrying uptick from 8.5 to 9.5 cases per 100,000 people between 2023 and 2024. A total of 81.5% of these cases were among individuals born outside the UK, but increases were noted among both UK-born and non-UK-born groups.
The UK Health Security Agency highlights a link between TB and poverty, with the disease more prevalent in big cities. London and the West Midlands saw the biggest rise in TB notifications in 2024, reports Surrey Live.
Those born in the UK who contract TB often have ties to homelessness, substance abuse, or the criminal justice system. Dr Esther Robinson, who leads the TB Unit at UKHSA, said: “TB remains a serious public health issue in England.”
Don’t brush off that persistent cough as just another flu or COVID-19, health experts warn, as TB cases rise. The doctor said: “The infection is preventable and curable.
“If you have moved to England from a country where TB is more common, please be aware of the symptoms of TB so you can get promptly tested and treated through your GP surgery.” Medics stress the need to differentiate TB from other respiratory illnesses.
Dr Robinson said: “Not every persistent cough, along with a fever, is caused by flu or COVID-19. A cough that usually has mucus and lasts longer than 3 weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including TB. Please speak to your GP if you think you could be at risk.”
TB, now the world’s top infectious killer, eclipsing coronavirus, is a sneaky bacterial infection often attacking the lungs. Notably infectious when it hits the pulmonary system, TB’s widespread symptoms are listed by the NHS, but sufferers may not always show signs.
Common and additional symptoms are detailed, but infection doesn’t always mean you will have a noticeable illness. With latent TB, you’re symptom-free – active TB means you’re definitely feeling it.
Common TB symptoms
- weight loss
- loss of appetite
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a high temperature or night sweats
- a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks – you may cough up mucus (phlegm) or mucus with blood in it
- feeling generally unwell
Other symptoms of TB
- dark or cloudy pee
- being sick
- swollen joints or ankles
- feeling confused
- body aches and pains
- a stiff neck
- tummy or pelvic pain
- constipation
- a headache
- a rash on the legs, face or other part of the body
- swollen glands
