The tuberculosis (TB) situation in the UK is becoming increasingly serious. According to the Daily Express, citing the Health Security Agency, the number of cases in the country has risen by 25% since 2022.
The trend of cases in recent years is as follows:
- In 2024: 5,480 cases (the highest figure);
- In 2025: 5,424 cases were recorded.
Experts warn that the situation is particularly concerning in the North East of England.
Susie Hingley-Wilson, a bacteriology expert at the University of Surrey, emphasizes that one of the main reasons for the increase is the prolonged time between the onset of symptoms and the start of treatment. The gap between when a person notices symptoms and when they seek medical help and receive treatment has widened. This allows the infection to spread more extensively within the community.
Experts also link the rise in cases to the declining standard of living.
According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, approximately 14.2 million people in the UK currently live below the poverty line. Low living standards and deprivation provide a fertile ground for social diseases like tuberculosis to take root.
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