New data shows forty-five people contracted tuberculosis in Liverpool between 2022 and 2024, highlighting rising infection rates and public health concerns. Health officials emphasise that TB remains preventable and treatable.
According to the latest data from the UK Health Security Agency, Liverpool has recorded 45 confirmed cases of tuberculosis between 2022 and 2024. This figure corresponds to a rate of nine cases per 100,000 people, placing the area just below the World Health Organization's threshold of 10 cases per 100,000 for low-incidence status. Tuberculosis, which was historically known as consumption and served as a major health threat in Victorian Britain, remains a preventable and curable condition.
However, infection rates across England are currently on an upward trend. Most of these cases in England involve individuals born outside of the UK, accounting for 82% of the notifications. Nevertheless, there has been a concurrent increase in cases among the UK-born population, where the disease is often linked to factors such as homelessness, deprivation, and substance use. Larger urban areas, including Liverpool, have been more significantly affected by these rising rates. The disease is known to impact the lungs, glands, bones, or brain.
Common symptoms include a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, fever, chills, fatigue, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and coughing up blood. Dr. Esther Robinson from the UK Health Security Agency emphasizes the importance of vigilance, advising that anyone experiencing a cough for more than three weeks should consult their GP. Public health officials are actively monitoring these trends, underscoring that early testing and prompt access to medical care are essential to controlling infection rates.
