Health alarms have been raised at a major Amazon fulfilment centre in the UK after multiple employees tested positive for tuberculosis (TB). The online retail giant confirmed that ten staff members at its Coventry hub were diagnosed with the non-contagious form of the disease in September last year.
Outbreak Details and Company Response
Amazon stated it immediately followed guidance from the NHS and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) upon discovering the cases. A company spokesperson emphasised that those affected responded well to treatment and are no longer infectious, posing no ongoing risk to colleagues. The site, which employs around 2,000 people, continues to operate normally.
As a precautionary measure, an expanded screening programme is being conducted on-site this month with NHS workers performing blood tests. Amazon confirmed that no additional cases have been identified since the initial cluster was found in September 2023.
Union Calls for Immediate Action and Temporary Closure
The GMB union, which has approximately 700 members at the Coventry warehouse, is demanding decisive action. It has called for the temporary closure of the site until robust infection control measures are implemented, with workers receiving full pay during any shutdown.
Amanda Gearing, a GMB Senior Organiser, issued a stark warning: "Currently, Amazon is putting all workers, site visitors, and the local and wider communities at risk of exposure to a serious infectious disease." She added, "Coventry Amazon risks becoming the engine room of a mass TB outbreak of a scale not seen for decades."
Understanding Tuberculosis and the UK Context
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs but can impact other parts of the body. It is treatable with antibiotics but can be serious if left untreated.
The World Health Organization still considers TB one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases. In the UK, reported cases rose by 13.6% in 2024, reaching 5,490 people. It is crucial to distinguish between:
- Latent TB: Where the bacteria are present but inactive, causing no symptoms and being non-contagious.
- Active TB: Where the disease is symptomatic and can be contagious.
The cases identified at Amazon Coventry were of the non-contagious, latent variety.
History of Tensions at the Coventry Site
This health scare occurs against a backdrop of existing industrial tensions. The Coventry warehouse was the focal point of significant strike action in March 2024, with workers walking out over disputes concerning pay and working conditions, and to demand formal union recognition.
By September 2024, Amazon had agreed to a pay rise for thousands of its warehouse workers. The company concluded its statement on the TB cases by reminding public organisations "of the need for responsible communications where matters of public wellbeing are concerned."
