Leicester has highest rate of TB in England as cases rise in the East Midlands

Conceptual image for tuberculosis treatment and prevention.
-Credit:Getty


Cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the East Midlands rose by six per cent last year. New figures released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show there were 421 confirmed cases of the infection in 2024, up from 397 the year before.

Although this rise is lower than the England-wide average - where reports rose by 13 per cent from 4,850 to 5,480 - Leicester remains the local authority area with the highest rate of the infection in the whole country. Last year there there were 40.7 cases of TB in Leicester per 100,000 people - more than four times the national average of 9.5 per 100,000 people.

The largest increases were seen in London and the West Midlands. The overwhelming majority of reports - 81.5 per cent - related to people who were born outside the UK.

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According to the UKHSA, TB is associated with deprivation and is more common in large urban areas. Among UK-born individuals, TB is more common in those experiencing homelessness, drug or alcohol dependency, and contact with the criminal justice system.

Deborah Watson, TB lead and consultant in public health at UKHSA East Midlands, said: “TB is curable and preventable, but the disease remains a serious public health issue in England. TB is of concern nationally and particularly in areas with stubbornly high or rising rates of TB such as Leicester.

“If you have moved to England in the last five years from a country where TB is more common, or have any of the symptoms of TB, please see your GP for testing and free treatment. 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 three 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.”

What is TB?

TB has surpassed Covid-19 as the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. It is a bacterial infection that most frequently affects the lungs, which is when it is infectious.

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It can spread through close contact with someone who has the infection and has symptoms - called 'active TB'. When someone with active TB coughs, they release small droplets containing the bacteria.

You can catch TB if you regularly breathe in these droplets over a long period of time. It can be treated with a long course of antibiotics but can be serious, particularly if not treated.

What are the symptoms of TB?

  • A cough that lasts more than three weeks

  • A high temperature

  • Night sweats

  • Loss of appetite

  • Weight loss

  • Swollen glands

  • Swollen joints

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