Here are some signs of tuberculosis (TB) to be vigilant of in light of Amazon confirming an outbreak at its warehouse in Coventry.
Ten workers had tested positive for the latent form of the disease in September 2025.
TB primarily affects the lungs and symptoms can come on slowly.
Common symptoms to look out for include:
- A cough that lasts for more than three weeks
- Coughing up mucus or mucus with blood in it
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
TB can spread to your brain, glands, and bones.
Signs of this spread include:
- Dark or cloudy pee
- Feeling confused
- Swollen glands
Call NHS 111 if you are coughing up blood.
TB can spread to the brain and cause meningitis.
Call 999 or go to A&E if you experience any of the following symptoms of meningitis:
- You have sudden confusion
- It’s painful to look at bright lights
- You’ve had a seizure or fit.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) released figures stating there were 5,490 notifications of tuberculosis (TB) in England in 2024.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that 10 TB cases per 100,000 people is the upper limit for nations defined as low incidence.
According to UKHSA, four areas of Greater Manchester would not be low incidence in 2024 in terms of TB cases per 100,000: Manchester (25.3), Bolton (16.9), Oldham (14.9), and Salford (11.3).
TB is transmitted by the expulsion of droplets containing the TB bacteria through coughing, and the inhalation of these droplets by another person over an extended period of time.
Featured Image: Chest x-ray. Free to use under the Unsplash License.
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