UKHSA has launched a call for evidence to help shape the next 5-year Tuberculosis (TB) National Action Plan for England, which will run from 2026 to 2031. The latest data for England show that TB rates are rising, and TB epidemiology is changing.
TB rates are diverging further from the trajectory required to achieve WHO elimination targets. Renewed action is necessary to keep rates below the WHO-defined low-incidence threshold of 10 cases per 100,000 population.
In 2023, England recorded its largest annual increase (11%) in TB cases since enhanced surveillance began in 2000. Provisional figures for 2024 indicate a further 13% rise in TB notifications compared to 2023, continuing the upward trend. Unless this rise is arrested, there is a risk of the UK becoming a ‘medium’ incidence country. Beyond the public health impact, this is likely to be politically embarrassing.
The new Tuberculosis National Action Plan (2026–2031) aims to improve the prevention, detection, and control of TB in England by prioritising the most effective interventions, focusing on those most affected, and addressing health inequalities.
Their contributions will help develop targeted strategies to tackle rising TB rates.
The Call for Evidence closes on 2 May 2025.
