With tuberculosis (TB) cases in England rising sharply for a second consecutive year, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has launched a call for evidence to shape its next five-year TB National Action Plan (2026–2031).
The move comes amid a worrying rise in TB cases, with provisional data for 2024 indicating a 13% increase in notifications compared to 2023—marking the second consecutive year of significant growth.
TB rates in England are diverging from the trajectory needed to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) elimination targets.
While the country remains classified as low-incidence, the latest figures suggest it is nearing the WHO-defined threshold of 10 cases per 100,000 people.
The UKHSA emphasizes the need for renewed action to prevent further setbacks and reduce health inequalities.
Read Also: Bank of England plans to raise deposit guarantee
TB is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms include a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, night sweats, weight loss, and fever.
Despite being both preventable and curable, TB remains a global public health challenge and is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, surpassing COVID-19.
The UK is not alone in facing an increase in TB cases. Many countries have reported similar trends following disruptions in healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UKHSA is now seeking expert input to develop strategies that will improve TB prevention, detection, and treatment.
Call for Evidence Open Until May 2025
The call for evidence, open from April 2 to May 2, 2025, invites contributions from academics, healthcare professionals, epidemiologists, policymakers, civil society representatives, and individuals with lived experience of TB.
Their insights will help shape targeted interventions for high-risk populations and ensure the new action plan is data-driven and effective.
Dr. Esther Robinson, Head of the TB Unit at UKHSA, highlighted the urgency of the initiative: “TB is curable and preventable, but the disease remains a serious public health issue in England. While England is still considered a low-incidence country for TB, the rise in cases over recent years means that we are now just below that threshold.
“(This call for evidence will help us develop an action plan that prioritizes the most effective interventions to reverse this trend, focusing particularly on the needs of those most affected.”
The new plan will build on progress made under the current Tuberculosis Action Plan for England, published in 2021, while addressing emerging challenges in TB control. The UKHSA encourages all those with expertise or experience in TB prevention, public health, and healthcare systems to contribute via GOV.UK.
