The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning that tuberculosis (TB) notifications in England are not declining, describing the Victorian-era disease as a “serious public health issue”.
Latest figures for 2025 show 5,449 cases were recorded, compared to 5,485 seen the previous year. TB is a bacterial infection that primarily spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or releases respiratory droplets. Treating the disease can be challenging, often requiring patients to undergo lengthy courses of antibiotics.
Drug-resistant strains on the rise
Over recent decades, health experts have become increasingly concerned by the rise of drug-resistant strains of TB, which are more difficult to treat with standard medications. The UKHSA said infections need to be tackled to get the rate down.
Dr Esther Robinson, Head of the TB Unit at UKHSA, said it is crucial that people are aware of the symptoms of tuberculosis so they can seek diagnosis and begin treatment as early as possible. She also stressed that a persistent cough should not automatically be dismissed as a cold or Covid-19, warning that it could instead be a sign of a more serious illness such as TB.
Public urged to recognise symptoms
Dr Robinson said: "While notifications haven’t increased in the past year, TB remains a serious public health issue. It’s important that everyone is aware of the symptoms to ensure prompt testing and treatment, so that we can bring TB levels down significantly.
"If you have moved to England from a country where TB is more common, please make sure you know 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."
Disparities and treatment burden
People living in the most deprived communities were nearly seven times more likely to receive a TB diagnosis in 2025 than those residing in the least deprived areas. Historically known as the “white plague” or “white death”, tuberculosis earned the nickname because sufferers often developed a strikingly pale appearance as the disease progressed, leaving many looking weak and gaunt.
TB is frequently described as a “Victorian disease” due to its widespread prevalence during the 19th century, when overcrowded housing, poor sanitation and rapid urban growth helped fuel its spread across Britain's industrial towns and cities. The UKHSA said: “The proportion of people with multi-drug resistant TB notifications was also similar, with 2.1% of people in 2025 found to be affected compared to 2.2% in 2024. This type of TB requires longer and more complex treatment, placing additional burdens on health services.”
