Residents urged to be aware of TB symptoms

Residents of Coventry are being urged to be aware of the symptoms of Tuberculosis (TB) following a rise in cases across the country.

Coventry City Council said its public health team was working with local services to ensure anyone with symptoms could access testing and treatment easily.

Councillor Kamran Caan, cabinet member for health, said: "We're seeing TB cases rising nationally and we want to ensure everyone in Coventry knows the symptoms to look out for."

The bacterial infection, which mainly affects the lungs, can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

It can affect any part of the body, including the bones and the brain.

The council said: "People are most at risk if they have been in regular contact with a person with infectious TB, have come to the UK from a country where TB is common, or have a weakened immune system due to health conditions or medical treatment such as chemotherapy."

Common symptoms include:

• A cough that lasts for more than three weeks – which may produce mucus or blood
• A high temperature
• Drenching night sweats
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Feeling tired or exhausted
• Difficulty gaining weight or growing (in children)

New statistics released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed there were 5,490 active cases of the disease in England in 2024, compared to 4,831 in 2023, a rise of 13.6%.

Caan added: "TB is a serious condition, but the key message is that it's curable with early diagnosis and treatment.

"If you have a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, please get checked by your GP.

"Testing and treatment are completely free for everyone, regardless of your circumstances, so please don't delay – early action can make all the difference to your health and helps prevent TB spreading to others."

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