Data shows 11% increase in Tuberculosis levels in England

LONDON

The number of reported Tuberculosis cases in England increased by 11% in 2023, compared to the previous year, the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said Thursday.

England reported 4,855 notifications of TB last year, compared to 4,380 in 2022, an 11% increase, according to the data.

However, the UKHSA said England still remains a low incidence country for the infectious disease, with a rate of 8.5 notifications per 100,000 population.

Last year, cases were lower than this century's peak, which was 2011 when 15.6 notifications per 100,000 population were seen.

The data revealed that 80% of all TB notifications in 2023 were in people born outside the UK, mostly India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Romania.

"TB is curable and preventable, but the disease remains a serious public health issue in England," said Esther Robinson, head of the TB Unit at UKHSA.

Symptoms of TB include a cough that lasts more than three weeks, high temperature, night sweats, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

According to the World Health Organization, 10.8 million people were ill with TB in 2023, a 7% increase from 2020.