Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs, which can be treated for free in the UK. Cases are being detected around the world but in England, Leicester has the highest number of cases.

Further information

Let’s stop TB

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection which can cause severe illness, and be fatal in some cases, but it is treatable. Leicester currently has higher rates of TB than other English cities. The majority of TB cases in Leicester are amongst people who have lived abroad. Sometimes you can have latent TB, which has no symptoms, but could eventually make you ill.

The council is working with the NHS to encourage more adults who are at higher risk from TB to get a free latent test, and treatment if needed to get rid of it.

Staff or parents aged 16-35 and who’ve lived or worked for longer than six months in a country with high TB levels (such as sub-Saharan Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or parts of Eastern Europe) can contact their GP and ask for the free latent TB test.

Find out more

To learn about TB and its symptoms please visit: Tuberculosis (TB) - LLR ICB.

If schools would like information leaflets about TB for staff or digital items for their websites or newsletters, they can contact sarah.bywater@leicester.gov.uk.

There is also an opportunity for a staff awareness session from the UK Health Security Agency.

World Tb day

Leicester University is organising a community walk-in event on Monday 30 March 2026 to stop the raise awareness of TB. You can find all the event information on their World TB day poster.