Leicester Sees Rise in TB Cases, Mum Urges testing After Family Diagnosis
Leicester, UK – A Leicester mother is speaking out to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB) after her entire immediate family was affected by the disease, as new data reveals the city continues to have higher-than-average TB rates. Ms Talbot-Jones, her husband, and their two-year-old son all contracted active TB, while her four other children were found to have latent TB infection.
The case highlights a growing concern in Leicester, where 82% of TB diagnoses in 2024 have been among individuals born outside the UK, often carrying latent TB that reactivates after migration. TB is preventable and curable, with the UK Health Security agency (UKHSA) reporting an 84.4% treatment completion rate within 12 months, but left untreated, it can cause permanent lung damage. Ms Talbot-Jones described the experience as “really traumatic,” and spoke of the stigma surrounding the illness. ”It’s seen as a disease that you can only catch if your immune system is low or if you’re living in dirty conditions. That’s not the case, you can catch it like a cough or a cold.”
Latent TB carries no symptoms and isn’t contagious, according to the NHS, but can develop into active disease. The UKHSA emphasizes the importance of testing, stating, “If you have symptoms or fit the criteria, you should be tested.”
currently, a free TB test is available in Leicester for anyone who has arrived in the UK within the last five years, has spent at least six months in a contry with high TB rates – such as India or sub-Saharan Africa – and is aged between 16 and 35, regardless of whether they are experiencing symptoms. Residents are urged to seek testing if they meet these criteria to help curb the spread of the disease and protect public health.
