Many people believe that tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of the past. However, recent data from the UK Health Security Agency reveals that TB cases in the UK have been rising for the last two years, with 5,480 cases in 2024, up 13% from 4,850 in 2023. This marks the highest annual increase since the early 2000s, notably driven by surges in London and the West Midlands, and is a stark reminder that TB remains a serious public health challenge which requires urgent political leadership and action through investment.
TB is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs and spreads through the air when an individual with active TB coughs or sneezes. Symptoms can include a persistent cough lasting more than 3 weeks, fever, night sweats and weight loss. While many think of TB as a historical illness, it continues to affect vulnerable communities in the UK today. Those most affected tend to be individuals living in poverty, people with weakened immune systems and those living in overcrowded housing.
Although the UK Government provides some support for TB screening and treatment, current efforts fall short. There is no fully funded national TB strategy, and experts and academics warn that without increased political leadership and long-term investment, progress will continue to stall.
TB is a marker of social inequality. People living in overcrowded housing, facing insecure immigration status, or struggling to access healthcare are disproportionately affected. If we are serious about ending TB in the UK, we need to tackle the social conditions that allow it to persist.
Rising TB cases in the UK is indicative of a global trend. The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us that infectious diseases do not respect geographical borders. Drug-resistant strains of TB and ongoing transmission in high-burden countries (where TB rates exceed 100 cases per 100,000 people) can have direct consequences for the UK, which is one reason why the UK’s role in international efforts, such as continuing to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, is so crucial.
The Global Fund finances life-saving treatment and prevention programmes in countries where TB is most widespread. In 2023 alone, 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB – the highest figure since the World Health Organisation (WHO) began monitoring in 1995 – reflecting increased screening and diagnostic efforts. 7.1 million people were diagnosed and treated in Global Fund-supported countries, while 2 million people received preventative therapy.
The Global Fund’s impact is clear. In 2023, 121,000 people received treatment for drug-resistant TB in countries where the Global Fund invests. Since 2002, the global TB mortality rate has dropped by 54%, and the incidence rate has declined by 28%. These gains help to stem transmission, reducing the risk of resistant strains spreading globally, including into the UK. The Global Fund is driving innovation to reach the millions of people with TB who remain undiagnosed, using tools like mobile diagnostic units, AI-assisted detection software, and digital chest X-rays, to expand access to timely diagnosis and care.
Despite making progress, the Global Fight against TB is significantly underfunded. In 2023, only US $5.7 billion was allocated worldwide for TB services, which is well short of the US $22 billion per year target set by the UN High Level Meeting on TB in 2023. The Global Fund accounts for 76% of all international funding for TB, serving as the backbone of the global response, that’s why it is crucial for the UK to continue its support.
To reverse the rise in TB cases, the UK must strengthen its domestic response through increased political leadership and investment in healthcare services and in addressing the social inequalities that fuel the disease, such as poor housing and limited access to care. At the same time, maintaining the UK’s investment in the Global Fund is essential for tackling TB globally, especially in high-burden countries where the risk of drug-resistant strains emerging is greatest. Sustained support for the Global Fund will reduce transmission abroad and protect health at home. Raising public and parliamentary awareness is also vital to ensuring that TB remains a political and funding priority. Tuberculosis is entirely preventable and curable: with strong, coordinated action both here in the UK and across the globe, we can end the disease for good – outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 3 – saving millions of lives and building healthier communities for the future.
This June, we are asking campaigners to write to their MPs and ask them to press the UK Government to support the Global Fund at its upcoming replenishment. Find out more about its life-saving work here.
Image source: https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/news/world-tuberculosis-day-2025-a-global-health-reminder/