Study: One person a week in England dies with undiagnosed TB
10 reported2 unconfirmed
A study published in the journal Thorax found that one person per week in England dies with undiagnosed and untreated tuberculosis. Researchers reported that British-born, older men were among those most likely to have TB diagnosed only after death, suggesting healthcare workers may overlook the disease in these patients. The study noted that tuberculosis rates in England are at a 10-year high, with 9.4 cases per 100,000 people in 2024, just below the World Health Organization’s “low incidence country” threshold of 10 cases per 100,000. Most TB cases are diagnosed in people born outside the UK with an average age of 36, but postmortem diagnoses tended to involve older, British-born individuals. The likelihood of postmortem diagnosis was greater in people living outside London and those with a history of drug or alcohol misuse. Children under four were also at higher risk, possibly due to underdeveloped immune systems and challenges in testing. The researchers described a postmortem TB diagnosis as a “never event” that should prompt urgent investigations.
What’s reported
One person per week in England dies with undiagnosed and untreated tuberculosis, according to a study in Thorax.
British-born, older men were most likely to have TB diagnosed only after death.
Tuberculosis rates in England are at a 10-year high: 9.4 cases per 100,000 people in 2024.
The WHO “low incidence country” threshold is 10 cases per 100,000; 2025 figures are expected to breach that level.
Most TB cases are diagnosed in people born outside the UK (average age 36), but postmortem diagnoses were in older, British-born individuals.
Postmortem diagnosis likelihood was higher in people living outside London and those with a history of drug or alcohol misuse.
Children under four were at higher risk for postmortem diagnosis.
Researchers called postmortem TB diagnosis a “never event” that should trigger root cause analysis.
TB is the biggest infectious disease killer globally: 1.23 million deaths and 10.7 million illnesses in 2024.
Limitations in the data mean it is not possible to say whether people died with TB but from other causes, or if TB caused their death.
Open questions
Whether the people who died with undiagnosed TB died from TB or from other causes.
The specific number of postmortem TB diagnoses per year in England.
Key figures
Dr Eleanor Morgan, study co-author and resident doctor at Liverpool University hospitals NHS foundation trust.
Dr Tom Wingfield, senior author and of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Dr Paul Cleary, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency and study author.
Sources: The Guardian
