Tuberculosis: warning signs of 'Victorian disease' after outbreak at warehouse
Cases of tuberculosis have been steadily rising 🏥
- Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs.
- Amazon have confirmed an outbreak at their warehouse in Coventry.
- Cases of TB have been on the rise, with data in 2025 showing a 13% rise.
Amazon has confirmed that one of its warehouses in Coventry has been hit with an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB).
On Friday (January 16), the GMB Union called for the site to be temporarily closed after “multiple” cases amongst workers were detected.
In a statement, Amazon said that 10 people had tested positive for non-contagious TB in September and that they had immediately followed “guidance from the NHS and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)”.
TB is often thought of as a disease of the Victorian era; however, cases have been on the rise, with figures from the UKHSA in 2025 showing a 13% rise in England.
It remains most common in urban areas, including London, but cases have also started to increase in areas where rates were previously lower, such as the South West and North East.
What is tuberculosis?
TB is a bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs. It is the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent and can easily spread through close contact with someone who is infected and has active symptoms.
TB is often thought of as a Victorian disease, but cases have been steadily growing in the UK, with figures from the UKHSA in 2025 showing a 13% rise in England, continuing an upward trend over the last few years.
What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection that affects the lungs, it can be treated with antibiotics, however if left untreated can become serious.
Symptoms of TB usually come on gradually, they can include:
- a cough that lasts more than three weeks – you may cough up mucus (phlegm) or mucus with blood in it
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a high temperature or night sweats
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- feeling generally unwell
If you have TB in your body with symptoms, this is called active TB, however, sometimes you will have no symptoms, this is called latent TB.
Is there a tuberculosis vaccine?
There is a vaccine for TB called the BCG vaccine, which was offered to all school children aged 10 to 14 until 2005. The vaccine is no longer routinely given as part of the NHS vaccination schedule, but is still available to those at higher risk of catching TB or who are at risk of becoming seriously ill.
Cases of TB are thought to be a thing of the past, but cases have steadily been growing. You can find out more about TB and if you’re eligible for the BCG at NHS.UK.