New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows reported notifications of Tuberculosis (TB) in England increasing by 11% in 2023, compared to the previous year.
Provisional data for the first 3 quarters of 2024 indicate a further 13.7% increase against the same period in 2023. Numbers and rates are now above the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic and the annual increase in 2023 is the largest in the current reporting period (1971 to 2023).
UKHSA confirms that England remains a low incidence country. However, the ongoing increase in the rate of TB notifications means England is further off-track to achieve the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) end TB targets.
You can find the press release for the publication here.
In response to the rise in cases, UKHS are urging stakeholders who work with groups more at risk of TB to be aware of the signs and symptoms and promote awareness of the disease amongst these groups.
They have produced an updated stakeholder communications toolkit. The update includes new translations of social media assets and videos, alongside suggested stakeholder copy for press releases and publications. Please share the toolkit with your own networks as you see fit.
