City has most TB cases in country for the second year running

LEICESTER is England's TB hotspot for the second year running as cases continue to rise.

- By LEE GARRETT

'SIMPLE TEST': Rob Howard

Tuberculosis (TB) levels in England increased by 13.6 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year, new data published this week by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows.

Across the country, there were 5,490 notifications of the disease in 2024, compared to 4,831 in 2023. A notification is a confirmed case of the disease.

In Leicester, a rise has also been seen over the same period.

The city had 42.1 cases per 100,000 people in 2024 compared with 40.7 per 100,000 the previous year. For the second year running, Leicester is the local authority area with the highest rate of the illness.

Comparatively, England as a whole has a rate of 9.4 notifications per 100,000 residents.

In the East Midlands overall, that rate is lower at 8.3 notifications per 100,000.

Despite the rising case numbers, however, the UKHSA has said the risk to the general public "remains low.

TB is preventable and curable, the agency added. Some 84.4 per cent of patients complete the recommended treatment course within 12 months.