Tuberculosis Rates in England Remained Level in 2025, UKHSA Reports
On 29 October 2026, the UK Health Security Agency published annual tuberculosis figures showing that cases in England remained flat in 2025. Health authorities recorded 5,449 TB notifications in 2025, compared with 5,485 in 2024. This pause comes after sharp increases from 4,380 notifications in 2022 and 4,831 in 2023. The 2025 infection rate was 9.26 per 100,000 people. For members of the public, the findings show where infection risks concentrate. Most cases (82.3%) occurred in people born outside the UK, and London had the highest rate at 20.2 per 100,000. People in England's most deprived areas were 6.9 times more likely to receive a diagnosis than those in the least deprived areas. UKHSA reminded the public that a cough producing mucus that lasts longer than three weeks can be a symptom of TB rather than flu or COVID-19, and urged anyone at risk to contact a GP surgery for testing.
What was announced
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that tuberculosis notifications in England held steady in 2025 at 5,449 cases, equating to 9.26 per 100,000 people. This matches the 2024 count of 5,485 cases (9.36 per 100,000). The plateau follows two consecutive years of rises: 4,380 cases were reported in 2022 and 4,831 in 2023.
UKHSA also shared provisional figures covering the first three quarters of 2026, which show notifications fell by 8.2% compared to the same period in 2025.
The data highlighted clear demographic patterns:
- People born outside the UK accounted for 82.3% of notifications, up slightly from 82% in 2024.
- Urban areas saw the highest rates, led by London with 20.2 notifications per 100,000 people.
- In the most deprived 10% of areas, rates reached 19.4 per 100,000 in 2025, up from 17.5 in 2024 and 14.5 in 2019.
- People in the most deprived decile were 6.9 times more likely to get diagnosed than those in the least deprived decile.
- Multi-drug resistant TB made up 2.1% of cases in 2025, down marginally from 2.2% in 2024.
What it means
TB is a bacterial infection that primarily strikes the lungs, where it can spread to others. Although the upward trend from 2022 and 2023 halted in 2025, UKHSA stated that substantial declines are still needed to tackle TB as a public health issue.
Inequality in TB distribution is expanding. Rates in poor neighbourhoods climbed steadily between 2019 and 2025, widening the gap between socioeconomic groups. Among UK-born residents, caseloads remained broadly stable among groups facing specific risk factors: homelessness, drug or alcohol dependency, and contact with the criminal justice system.
UKHSA advised people who moved to England from countries with higher TB incidence to learn the symptoms. The agency noted that a cough lasting over three weeks and bringing up mucus is a possible sign of TB and should be checked by a GP.
What the announcement does not tell us
The report notes that a new TB National Action Plan is being developed to improve prevention, detection, and control, but does not provide a publication date. It also does not explain why cases fell by 8.2% in early 2026 or which specific countries of birth account for the non-UK-born cases. Finally, the announcement does not give local breakdowns for regions outside London.
How this was written
This analysis was written with AI from the official announcement below, using only facts that announcement states. The quoted wording is gov.uk: UK Health Security Agency’s own. Always check the original before acting on anything here.
UKHSA is reminding people to be aware of TB symptoms to ensure prompt testing and treatment
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