Drug-Resistant TB at Record Levels in England
10 October 2025
Tuberculosis (TB) cases in England increased by 13.6% in 2024 compared with the previous year, according to new data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
There were 5490 TB notifications in 2024, up from 4831 in 2023. This marked the second consecutive year of significant growth, following an 11% rise in 2023.
The UKHSA noted that the increase “reflects global patterns,” with many countries seeing rates increase. The agency confirmed that the risk to the general population remained low.
England recorded 9.4 notifications per 100,000 people in 2024, up from 8.5 per 100,000 the previous year. The rate was just below the World Health Organization’s threshold of 10 per 100,000 for a low-incidence country and remained well below the 2011 peak of 15.6.
Drug Resistance Reaches Record Levels
The proportion of drug-resistant TB reached its highest level since enhanced surveillance began in 2012. Of all laboratory-confirmed cases, 2.2% showed resistance to multiple drugs.
TB remains closely linked to deprivation and is most common in large urban areas. London recorded the highest regional rate at 20.6 per 100,000, followed by the West Midlands at 11.5.
The largest percentage increases were reported in the West Midlands (22.7%), Yorkshire and the Humber (19.2%), and the South West (17.7%).
Leicester in the East Midlands and Newham in London again had the highest local authority rates, each exceeding 40 cases per 100,000.
Higher Incidence in Vulnerable Groups
More than 4 in 5 TB notifications (82%) were among people born outside the UK. However, rates also increased in both UK-born and non-UK-born populations.
Among those born in the UK, TB was more prevalent among people who had experienced homelessness, drug and alcohol dependence, or contact with the criminal justice system.
New Action Plan in Development
The UKHSA also published findings from expert consultations to inform the upcoming Tuberculosis National Action Plan (2026-2031). The current action plan was published in 2021.
Respondents highlighted three key areas for continued progress: supporting the TB nursing workforce, improving surveillance data quality and accessibility, and enhancing contact tracing through technologies such as whole-genome sequencing.
The most frequently cited challenges included delayed diagnosis, limited access to testing, medication shortages, and increasing complexity of TB cases.
Dr Esther Robinson, head of the TB Unit at the UKHSA, warned that rising TB rates are a growing concern.
“TB is preventable and curable, but with rates increasing, it remains a serious public health issue,” she said. “We must act fast to break transmission chains through rapid identification and treatment.”
By Dr Rob Hicks
Source: Medscape
