Tuberculosis Cases Rebound in England

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent worldwide, including in England.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report announced on March 24, 2025, reveals that TB remains a significant public health concern in England.

Data indicates that reported TB notifications increased by 13% in 2024, from 4,850 to 5,480 people, compared with 2023.

The most significant geographic increases were in London and the West Midlands

The UKHSA writes, ' If this rate of increase persists, the UK risks losing its WHO low incidence status of 10 cases per 100,000 population.'

According to the UKHSA, there is a strong association between the increase in TB incidence and the rise in migration, with about 81% of all notifications in 2023 coming from people born outside the UK. Work is underway to identify the optimal and most cost-effective control and prevention strategies to tackle this increase.

One tactic to reduce TB cases in children listed by the UKHSA is to optimize the use of Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccines provision through commissioning and specification to include vaccinating infants at four weeks of age. While about 50% effective, BCG vaccination is an inexpensive defence against treating TB cases.

The global average cost for BCG vaccination is about $5.00. According to USAID, treating a tuberculosis case in the U.S. costs about $20,000, and a drug-resistant tuberculosis case can cost over $150,000.