The United Kingdom is facing the potential loss of its ‘safe’ status due to a surge in a ‘serious public health’ bug, as reported by Wales Online. Recent data has shown an 11% increase in cases, indicating that the UK may no longer be regarded as a ‘low level’ risk country by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This concerning trend has prompted officials to issue warnings about the rising levels of tuberculosis (TB) circulating within the community.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released its first annual report, covering the impact of infectious diseases in England from 2023 to early 2025. The report highlighted that factors such as the return of social mixing and international travel post-Covid-19, along with changes in migration patterns, have contributed to the resurgence of various illnesses. Countries with a TB threshold of 10 cases per 100,000 people are classified as low-incidence by the WHO. However, UKHSA data reveals an 11% increase in TB cases in 2023, followed by a further 13% increase in provisional 2024 data.
Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of UKHSA, emphasised the seriousness of the TB situation in England during the UKHSA conference in Manchester. She cautioned that if the current rate of increase continues, the UK risks losing its WHO low incidence status, which has been held since 2017. The association between the rise in TB cases and migration from high-incidence countries was also highlighted, with 80% of reported cases in 2023 involving individuals born outside the UK.
Despite efforts to screen individuals for TB before their entry into the UK, the dormant nature of the TB-causing bacteria poses challenges. The decline in vaccine uptake, particularly for childhood diseases like measles and whooping cough, has raised additional concerns. Dame Jenny pointed out that measles cases surged in 2024, following a drop in vaccination coverage, potentially reversing the progress made towards eradicating the disease.
In addition to TB and measles, other infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted infections, are also on the rise. Infectious diseases accounted for over 20% of NHS hospital bed usage in 2023/2024, costing nearly £6 billion. The winter months presented further challenges with a combination of flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus strains, collectively known as a “quad-demic”.
Richard Pebody, director of epidemic and emerging infections at UKHSA, stressed the importance of maintaining vigilance and implementing interventions like vaccination programmes to reduce the burden of infectious diseases. The impact of rising infection rates was evident not only on affected individuals but also on the strain placed on the healthcare system.
As the UK navigates through these health challenges, the need for proactive measures to curb infectious diseases remains paramount. The insights provided in the UKHSA report serve as a call to action for authorities and the public alike to address the growing threat of infectious illnesses and safeguard public health.