Scotland Sees 40% Increase in Tuberculosis Cases, Highest Since 2017

Public Health Scotland reports a significant rise in TB cases, predominantly affecting individuals born outside the UK.

Public Health Scotland recorded 283 tuberculosis cases in 2023, a 40.8% increase from the previous year.
More than two-thirds of those diagnosed with TB in Scotland were born outside of the UK, with incidence rates 19.2 times higher than for UK-born individuals.
The most common risk factor identified was being a refugee or asylum seeker, with a strong link to areas of high deprivation.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde reported the highest number of cases, with significant increases also noted in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, and NHS Dumfries and Galloway.
Despite the increase, Scotland remains a low-incidence country for TB, with rates significantly lower than the European average.