TB Cases in England Stabilise by 2025

UKHSA is reminding people to be aware of TB symptoms to help ensure prompt testing and treatment.

The latest provisional annual data for 2025 from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that reported notifications of tuberculosis (TB) in England were broadly stable compared to 2024, with 5,424 people notified compared to 5,487 in 2024 - a decrease of 1.1%.

England now has a notification rate of 9.4 per 100,000 population. While this represents an increase above the pre-pandemic level of 8.36 per 100,000 in 2019, it remains below this century's peak of 15.6 notifications per 100,000 population recorded in 2011.

81.6% of all TB notifications in 2025 were in people born outside the UK, consistent with previous years. Numbers decreased slightly in both UK-born and non-UK-born populations.

Tuberculosis continues to be associated with deprivation and is more common in large urban areas. In 2025, the largest percentage increase in TB notifications was recorded in the North East (42 additional notifications, 34.1% increase), while the largest decrease was in the West Midlands (74 fewer notifications, 10.4% decrease). TB notifications were stable in 5 of the 9 UKHSA regions. Among UK-born individuals, TB is more common in those experiencing homelessness, drug or alcohol dependency, and contact with the criminal justice system.

Dr Esther Robinson, Head of the TB Unit at UKHSA, said:

TB remains a serious public health issue in England.

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.

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 is the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, having surpassed coronavirus (COVID-19). It is a bacterial infection that most frequently affects the lungs, which is when it is infectious.

Symptoms of TB include: